Senate to probe LTFRB anomalies

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate committee on public services is set to start next week its inquiry into the alleged irregularities and controversies hounding the officials of the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

The committee, chaired by Sen. Grace Poe, will look into allegations of misconduct against LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra and three of his officials over their issuance of an order approving fare hikes for certain regions in the country.

Last August, then LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada filed administrative charges of insubordination and grave misconduct against Delgra’s chief of staff and two other subordinates for conspiring to rush the approval of the fare hikes without her knowledge.

Lizada was appointed earlier this week as member of the board of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

The panel is also going to look into the recent “truck holiday” staged by a group of truckers protesting the Department of Transportation (DOTr) move to phase out haulers that are dilapidated or are 15 years old or older. The government warned that such trucks pose risks to the environment and the general public.

The Alliance of Philippine Brokers and Truckers Association claimed some 200,000 trucks will be affected by the phase-out plan.

Another issue to be probed by the committee is the alleged favoritism of the DOTr in selecting provincial bus companies that can proceed into Metro Manila instead of just ending their routes at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) along Coastal Road.

The PITX is supposed to be the last stop of Metro Manila-bound provincial buses that are banned on EDSA. From the PITX, commuters can take other modes of transport to continue into Metro Manila.

‘Humbled’ by appointment

Lizada said she will take what she learned from being assigned to the Office of the Ombudsman once she takes over as CSC commissioner following more than two years in the LTFRB.

“I am humbled by the trust that attends this new assignment as it is both a privilege and honor to serve our country,” she said in a statement. 

Lizada did not allude to her term at the LTFRB, where she was oftentimes at loggerheads with Delgra.

Their conflict reached the Office of the Ombudsman as their staff filed charges against each other over alleged violations of the anti-graft law and the code of conduct for government employees.