ILOILO City – Illegal public transport operators and abusive taxi drivers face intensified enforcement across Western Visayas as the Land Transportation Office (LTO) launches a 13-day crackdown beginning October 23 to protect thousands of commuters expected to travel during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
The operation, dubbed “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Undas 2026,” will run until November 4, targeting unauthorized public utility vehicles (PUVs), passenger overcharging, taxi drivers refusing passengers, and other transport violations that could compromise public safety during the holiday travel rush.
LTO Region 6 will deploy law enforcement teams and deputized personnel to major bus and jeepney terminals, seaports, airports, and highways throughout the region, combining strict vehicle inspections with roadside patrols and random drug testing of PUV drivers.
A major component of the campaign is the intensified drive against “colorum” vehicles, or public transport units operating without the required government authority.
Unauthorized operators caught transporting passengers during the heightened enforcement period face immediate apprehension and vehicle impounding.
The agency is also activating “Oplan Isnabero,” a separate enforcement campaign against taxi drivers who refuse to take passengers to their destinations, demand negotiated fares instead of using taximeters, impose excessive charges, or engage in extortion and abusive behavior.
Commuters who encounter these violations are encouraged to report them directly to LTO personnel stationed at transport terminals.
The simultaneous crackdown is intended to prevent unscrupulous transport operators from exploiting the surge in passenger demand as families travel to their hometowns and visit cemeteries and memorial parks.
Under the operational plan, LTO-6 will conduct inspections at major transport facilities in Iloilo, including Mohon Terminal, People’s Terminal, Ungka Terminal, and Tagbac Terminal.
Inspectors will examine the mechanical condition of public utility vehicles, particularly their tires, lighting systems, passenger capacity, and other essential safety components.
Authorities will also verify vehicle registration and franchise validity to determine whether transport units are legally authorized and roadworthy before allowing them to operate.
Random and unannounced drug testing of PUV drivers will form part of the intensified safety measures to help prevent accidents associated with impaired driving.
Two-phase deployment
LTO-6 has divided its October 23 to November 4 operation into two phases to address changing passenger movements and traffic conditions.
The first phase, scheduled from October 23 to 27, will concentrate on outbound travelers leaving urban centers ahead of the Undas observance.
During this period, enforcement teams will prioritize terminal inspections, random drug testing, and monitoring of major routes used by passengers traveling to the provinces.
The second phase, covering October 28 to November 4, will shift enforcement attention toward cemeteries, memorial parks, major highways, and routes used by returning travelers.
Personnel deployments will be adjusted according to traffic volume, congestion, and reported road incidents to maintain an effective enforcement presence throughout the holiday period.
Aside from apprehending violators, LTO-6 personnel will conduct road safety information campaigns emphasizing the importance of wearing seatbelts, observing speed limits, avoiding mobile phone use while driving, and complying with child passenger safety requirements.
Motorcycle riders will likewise be reminded to wear prescribed protective helmets and observe traffic regulations.
The deployment framework was finalized during an executive briefing led by LTO-6 Regional Director Atty. Gaudioso P. Geduspan II and Assistant Regional Director Jeck D. Conlu.
The meeting was attended by the Regional Law Enforcement Section, headed by Chief Jetster T. Mandadero, together with division chiefs and deputized personnel responsible for identifying priority enforcement areas.
The regional initiative follows directives from LTO Chief Assistant Secretary Markus V. Lacanilao under the policy guidance of Transportation Secretary Atty. Giovanni Lopez./PN
