MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will hire 145 public utility vehicle (PUV) inspectors as part of the agency's drive to efficiently regulate PUV operations nationwide.
With about 400,000 PUVs operating throughout the country, the board needed additional qualified personnel to enhance random and scheduled inspections of PUV terminals and garages to ensure they comply and meet their obligations stipulated in their franchises.
The PUV inspectors will play key administrative and technical duties in ensuring PUV operators adhere to their authorized routes and schedules, and follow the right fare matrix.
The personnel, who will be hired by the board and be part of its newly created PUV Inspection Unit, will be assigned in Board’s Central Office, followed by the National Capital Region, Regions 3, 4 and 6.
"Sa pagpasok ng taong 2015, isa sa mga pangunahing layunin namin na palakasin ang pwersa ng inspection team namin na nagsasagawa ng masusing inspection sa mga terminal ng PUVs upang masigurong sumusunod ang mga PUV operators ayon sa itinakda ng batas transportasyon," LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said.
The PUV inspection unit was also established in line with the Board’s PUV modernization programs, specifically in strictly implementing the age limit policy for PUVs.
"We need qualified personnel to impose the Board’s Phase-Out Policy in line with our aim of modernizing PUVs plying our national road," Ginez said.
He added that with a modernized transport system and PUV operators fulfilling their franchise operations to labor rules and regulations, the public commuters are assured that they can travel safely.
In 2015, the Board is also intensifying its anti-colorum drive with the creation of LTFRB Special Anti-Colorum Task Force who will go after PUVs, public utility buses and UV Express operators plying the national roads without valid permits.
Funding for LTFRB’s newly created PUV Inspection Unit will be derived from the new budget approved by the Department of Transportation and Communications, Department of Budget Management, and Senate and Lower Houses’ Committee on Appropriations.