MANILA — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has ordered all its regional directors to strengthen anti-colorum operations nationwide following the directive of Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez to curb the operations of unregistered public utility vehicles.

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II instructed all regional offices to conduct regular visibility patrols and special operations against colorum vehicles and to intensify intelligence-gathering to identify routes commonly used by illegal operators.

“Nag-level up na ang mga iligal na operasyon ng mga colorum operators dahil sa mga panghuhuli na isinagawa sa nakalipas na dalawang taon. We in the LTO should always be one step ahead of them to ensure that they will be busted,” Mendoza said.

He also directed regional directors to strictly implement the filing of criminal cases against violators caught during anti-colorum operations and reminded them that impounded vehicles cannot be released without a court order, even if fines are paid.

According to LTO data, hundreds of colorum vehicles—from motorcycles to vans—are apprehended monthly. Several operators have been convicted, including one in Iloilo City recently sentenced for operating a colorum van in Antique.

Mendoza noted a decline in apprehensions over the past three months, prompting a reshuffle of district office heads to reinvigorate the campaign.

“Malaki ang epekto ng mga colorum na ito sa mga lehitimong transport operators and we assure our friends in the transport sector of sustained operations to protect their livelihood,” Mendoza said.

Transport groups earlier reported losses of up to 30 percent of their daily income due to the presence of colorum vehicles.

Mendoza also urged the public to avoid patronizing colorum transport, warning that such vehicles often lack passenger insurance and may be unsafe for travel.

“Imbes na sumakay, i-report po natin ang mga colorum na mga sasakyan sa ating hotline at even sa ating mga social media accounts. Netizens can also send photos and videos to us at kami na po ang bahala,” he said.

Under existing laws, convicted colorum vehicle operators face imprisonment and fines of up to ₱1 million.