The crackdown on smoke-belching or dangerous jeepneys has begun as the public vehicle modernisation programme gets underway.
The Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (I-ACT) today (Monday, January 8) cited 255 Manila jeepney drivers for causing pollution or having faulty or defective vehicles on the first day of the ‘Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok’ campaign.
I-ACT head Tim Orbos said drivers were issued warnings and subpoenas to subject their vehicles to Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS).
“We give flagged down drivers subpoena for them to appear before the LTO (Land Transportation Office) within 24 hours,” he said.
“We will be strictly enforcing the on-road inspection of public transport vehicles.”
“All public transport that we see not roadworthy will be stopped and will be issued a subpoena for them to undergo the MVIS.”
Failure to pass the inspection test, which consists of a 60-point test of roadworthiness, will result in the suspension of the vehicle’s operating franchise.
Among the tests for roadworthiness are body appearance, engine, lights, brakes, tires, horn, battery and smoke emission.
Pilot areas for the campaign include EDSA, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon Avenue, and Marcos Highway.
The modernisation campaign is in line with President Duterte’s determination to get unroadworthy public transport units off the road.
I-ACT is composed of Land Transportation Office (LTO), Highway Patrol Group (HPG), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), together with various local government traffic enforcement units.
In the long run, Orbos said they wanted to devise a way where private citizens could also report units that needed to be modernised, or taken off the road completely.
Under the modernisation programme, old and dilapidated units will eventually be replaced with environment-friendly and fuel-efficient vehicles.