LTFRB starts inspecting school service vehicles

MORE TIME Transport operators roll out a protest caravan May 7 in Quezon City to seek a delay in the enforcement of the age limit on vehicles used as school shuttles. LYN RILLON

In preparation for the opening of classes next week, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has started checking the road-worthiness of school transport services.

The inspections which began last week also determines the operators’ compliance with the LTFRB’s phaseout order for school vehicles over 15 years old.

The LTFRB went to Don Bosco in Sta. Mesa, Manila, on Monday to check 44 service vehicles, including those from the Don Bosco Technical Institute in Makati and the Don Bosco Technical College in Mandaluyong.

LTFRB Chair Winston Ginez said they found only minimal issues which they ordered corrected such as the lack of seat belts and fire extinguishers, heavily tinted windows and balding tires.

Inspected last week were vehicles belonging to St. Paul University, Assumption College, Ateneo de Manila University and Miriam College, among many others.–Jaymee T. Gamil