In a powerful show of unity, a major coalition of transport groups pledged its full support to the newly appointed Chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II, during a gathering on Thursday, October 16, hailing him as a beacon of hope for the long-troubled sector.
Chairman Mendoza, who assumed his post on October 10, responded with a series of bold promises, vowing to eliminate corruption, streamline processes, and crack down on illegal operators within his first year. He immediately committed to clearing a backlog of 25-year-old problems, starting with a directive to finish pending paperwork within 30 days.
The appointment of Atty. Vigor D. Mendoza II as the new Chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is being heralded by transport leaders as a strategic decision by the administration to bring reform to the sector.
According to Rolando Marquez, Chairman of the Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP), Atty. Mendoza brings a significant background in law and public administration to the position. His extensive experience is seen as critical for addressing the complex challenges of traffic congestion, regulatory efficiency, and the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization program.
“Mendoza’s unique mix of legislative, regulatory, and industry experience is precisely what the sector needs,” Marquez stated, referencing the new chief’s prior roles as a Board Member of the LTFRB and, most recently, as the Chief of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
As Chairman, Mendoza will lead the LTFRB, the primary policy-making body for land transportation, overseeing decisions that affect millions of Filipinos daily. His familiar presence in the transport sector has generated significant optimism among stakeholders. The LTOP pledged its full cooperation, reaffirming its commitment to assist the new Chairman in ensuring safer, more orderly, and efficient land transportation for all.
“The Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP) looks forward to a productive and collaborative partnership with Chairman Mendoza,” Marquez said. “We are confident that his leadership will bring fresh perspectives and drive meaningful reforms in the country’s traffic management and transportation regulatory frameworks.”
A New Era and a Direct Challenge
Mendoza directly challenged the transport sector to help him cleanse the agency, asking them to submit a list of LTFRB personnel who are “just enriching themselves in office.” “Let’s stop all of these (illegal activities). Let’s start now. Let’s do it now,” he declared.
He also emphasized the need for compassion within the agency, telling LTFRB employees, “You minimize your brain, but enlarge your heart.” To improve efficiency, he announced the utilization of new technology for online registration, repurposing fixers into encoders.
Sector Leaders Echo Optimism and Demands
The sentiment of hope was echoed by Orlando “Ka Lando” Marquez, National President of LTOP (Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas), who revealed that Chairman Mendoza promised to solve the sector’s problems within six months to one year. Marquez also announced a significant financial boost, stating that the Office of the President had approved a P10-billion financial assistance package for their organization.
However, Marquez also issued strong criticisms, lambasting the operation of e-trikes without franchises in provincial airports and the proliferation of “colorum” vehicles. He singled out “kotong cops” (corrupt traffic enforcers) as “katulisan” (bandits) and expressed concern over the influx of Chinese-made modernized mini buses replacing traditional jeepneys.
He further argued that the transport industry, which pays taxes, deserves support and requested at least P7 billion from the P257 billion rechanneled from the DPWH’s flood control budget.
Crackdown on Colorum and Route Rationalization
A key focus of the new administration will be the “Bantay Ruta” program. Mendoza stressed that the LTFRB would initiate criminal prosecution against “colorum” vehicles and work to rationalize routes nationwide, addressing 400 pending cases for route modification. He assured that under the modernization program, no traditional jeepney would be forcibly towed.
Supporting this crackdown, MMDA’s Col. Bong Nebrida stated, “We don’t stop at apprehending ‘colorums’, especially the colorum motorcycles,” highlighting the danger they pose to legal operators.
Meanwhile, in a speech addressed to national transport leaders, the former Vice President of BUSINA Roselyn Sakdalan, a national women’s transport organization, expressed deep frustration over the lack of “route rationalization” for public vehicle routes, which she identified as the core problem plaguing the transportation sector.
Beyond the personal grievance, the speech highlighted systemic failures in the government’s management of the transport system. The primary demand was for the new chairperson of the MTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) to release the “root rationalization” plan.
She argued that this rationalization is the “key” to understanding the actual demand on each route, including passenger volume and the number of modern versus traditional jeepneys operating. Without this data, she claimed, the system is unbalanced and unsustainable.
“We, the modernized units, are having a hard time,” she declared. “Why? Because it’s not balanced… there are more people serving… out of line.” This oversaturation of routes, she argued, is causing financial hardship for operators who have invested in modernized vehicles under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PTMP).
She directly challenged officials, asking, “Why is the route rationalization not balanced until now? What about the MPTRP? When will this happen?”
Her final plea was for concrete government action, stating, “We have a lot of problems with transport. We should solve them. And I hope that there will be action. That is what we need.”
Broad Coalition in Attendance
The event demonstrated widespread support for Mendoza, with attendance from a who’s who of the transport sector. This included leaders from major organizations like FEJODAP, ACTO, the National Federation of UV Express, numerous regional and provincial presidents, trucking associations, and cooperatives, signaling a collective desire for reform under the new LTFRB leadership.#
