Press Release
January 27, 2019

SUSPEND ORDER IMPOSING HEFTIER FINES VS PUVs--POE

CAGAYAN DE ORO--Sen. Grace Poe on Saturday called on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to suspend further implementation of an order imposing stiffer fines for violations of rules and laws governing land transportation.

Poe, who chairs the Senate public services committee, said a mere administrative order--Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2014-01 by the then Department of Transportation and Communications, Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board and Land Transportation Office--cannot override a law passed by Congress.

"Unang-una ay kailangan talagang kausapin 'yung LTFRB [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board] na suspendihin ang Joint Administrative Order ng mga penalties dito sa mga public utility vehicles na ii-impound. Ito ay iligal sapagkat hindi ito ang batas, ito ay Joint Administrative Order lamang noong dating DOTC na hanggang ngayon ay ipinapatupad so kailangan nating ayusin ito dahil hindi na po ito makatao, mapang-api na ang ganitong klaseng administrative order," said Poe in an interview after her panel's hearing in this city on Saturday, January 26.

At the hearing held at the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines, Poe's panel was told that the JAO was arbitrarily implemented and anti-poor especially for small-time drivers and operators as it effectively raised the penalties imposed by Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code.

Poe earlier filed Senate Resolution No. 910 directing the Senate to investigate the "unjustly harsh" fines and penalties for land transport violations.

For her part, Poe said the JAO usurps the power of Congress to increase penalties.

"Batas lang ang puwedeng magtaas ng penalty. Kaya yung JAO ay against the law. Iligal 'yan," Poe asserted.

A case had been filed in 2014 at the Supreme Court assailing the constitutionality of the joint order.

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