The Provincial Board is appealing to banking institutions in the city to issue certificates of registration (COR) to tourism van and other public transport owners who need them as a requirement in processing their franchises with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
The appeal is for banks where the owners took loans for their vehicles, said board member Eduardo Modesto Rodriguez who filed a resolution to the Provincial Board to help them.
In his privilege speech Tuesday, Rodriguez said 60 percent of public utility vehicles or passenger vans in the province are currently operating as “colorum” or illegal public land transports due to the absence of franchises from the LTFRB.
He said most of the operators and drivers got their vehicles through auto loan schemes in which the COR is being held by bank institutions until they have completed their payment terms.
“Katulad noong nakaraan, halos 60 percent ng mga van ay mga colorum. Noong nagkaroon ng inspection, majority hindi nakaka-biyahe. Ang iba nahuhuli dahil walang lisensya at franchise. Ang iba doon na lang muna sa Aborlan at Langogan kasi nalaman nila na may hulihan. Siguro isang naging problema doon karamihan privately-owned kasi kumukuha sa banko then ipapasok sa cooperative para makakuha ng franchise pero hindi nabibigyan dahil walang COR since naka-loan ang sasakyan nila,” Rodriguez said.
Because of the dilemma, representatives from the bankers association, transport sector, highway patrol group and Land Transportation Office (LTO) have been requested to appear before the meeting of the committee on transportation next week.
Rodriguez said this is for them to be able to determine if there is a way they can help their families who depend on their income.
“Kung pwede matanong ang mga banko, kung pwede magawan ng paraan na mabigyan ang mga van owners ng COR kasi nga naka-loan ito. Karamihan hindi nakarehistro sa LTO kaya kung matanong ang mga bangko kung puwede ba na makapag-provide sila ng certificate of registration para matulungan naman natin ang mga kababayan natin. Isa pa, para naman ma-legalize ang kanilang pasada lalo na sa mga pasahero sa norte at sur,” Rodriguez said.
 to tourism van and other public transport){kind=link}