AT least 226 dilapidated, untidy and poorly maintained taxis and passenger buses have been apprehended during the two-month campaign against run-down public utility vehicles (PUVs), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said on Wednesday.
LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza II said the extensive drive was also in compliance with the directive of Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez, who wants the bureau to step up the campaign against decrepit PUVs as part of the efforts to “provide decent, reliable and comfortable public transportation to the Filipino people.”
According to the LTFRB, the apprehension of the 226 PUV units resulted from the June to July 2026 operation in Metro Manila and nearby areas.
Mendoza said the agency is committed to sustaining the aggressive operation, stressing that Filipino commuters deserve to be treated with dignity and respect by PUV drivers and operators.
“There must be no excuses for dilapidated, untidy and stinking public transportation units. That is clear and simple, and that is based on the rules and regulations that PUV operators are fully aware of when they sought the authority to operate,” Mendoza said.
“If these are being violated, then we have no choice but to strip them of the privilege to operate PUVs for disrespecting not only the commuters but the entire public transportation system that we seek to improve and professionalize,” he added.
Sherwin Vizconde, LTFRB’s Law Enforcement Division head, said 178 taxi units were apprehended in the series of operations in Caloocan and Quezon cities.
“These areas are where they have been receiving reports of dilapidated taxi units from passengers,” Vizconde said.
He said 48 passenger buses were also apprehended when LTFRB enforcers were deployed along NIA Road and Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City, Robinson Antipolo in Rizal, and Monumento in Caloocan City.
“We already sent show-cause orders to the operators. We asked them to explain why their franchise should not be canceled or revoked for operating untidy and dilapidated units,” Vizconde said.
The operations are part of the LTFRB chief’s commitment to improve and modernize the country’s public transport system, he added.
Mendoza told The Manila Times that he has been conducting surprise inspections targeting taxis, jeepneys, buses and even transport network vehicle service units.
“Filipino commuters deserve better. Those who violate the regulations on cleanliness and presentability of units have no place in our public transportation system,” Mendoza, a former Land Transportation Office head, said.
