BACOLOD City – Several vans in southern Negros Occidental operate illegally, a transport group leader disclosed.
Around 50 vans ply the Kabankalan City-Sipalay City-Hinoba-an town route without franchise from the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board, claimed Jocelyn Dacumos, president of the Federation of Transport Operators in Southern Negros.
Such vans have been identified as “tourist transport” or “rent-a-car” vans and not UV Express vans, the transport leader said.
While most of them have secured a business permit from the Permits and Licensing Division of the Kabankalan City government, all of them are considered “colorum,” Dacumos pointed out.
She urged the Kabankalan City government to create a local public route approved by the LFTRB to legitimize the operation of these vans.
Vans operating as public transport without the UV Express license are considered colorum, Dacumos stressed, citing the Joint Administrative Order 2014-01 of the LTFRB and the Land Transportation Office.
Legitimizing the operation of these vans will level the field of competition among public utility vans in southern Negros Occidental, said Dacumos.
Citing their business permit, the tourist transport / rent-a-car vans park in front of a 24/7 convenience store on Guanzon Street, Kabankalan City and pick up passengers along national roads, she said.
These practices are “illegal,” stressed Dacumos.
Tolerating this kind of operation by these vans will result in unfair competition and put passengers’ lives in danger, she warned./PN
