You Can Now Report Smoke-Belching, Dilapidated PUVs Through I-ACT's Chatbot Hotline

If you spot a smoke belching or dilapidated public utility vehicle (PUV), you can report it through an online platform launched recently by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (I-ACT).

Through the 'Sumbong Bulok, Sumbong Usok' (SBSU) Hotline that may be accessed through the Facebook Messenger of I-ACT, the public may now report dilapidated PUVs, smoke-belching vehicles, colorum PUVs, illegally-parked vehicles, and illegal vendors among others, by posting a photo or video of the offender and identifying the location where the violation was committed through GPS.

The SBSU Hotline is a digital chatbot hotline and a project of the DOTr in partnership with Trufidelity Innovations, a private company that has offered to the DOTr and I-ACT free use of its digital media platform.

"The success of this platform in helping realize the objectives of our 'Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok' operations will serve as a solid proof that if the government, its people, and technology are put into one, nothing is impossible," said DOTr Arthur Tugade.

A case management system will be integrated on the server of the SBSU platform that will enable I-ACT to swiftly respond to the concerns.

"This platform will not only help citizens send their complaints easily. This will also help our case managers and resolvers monitor the status of concerns. Makikita doon ng DOTr kung anong mga lugar ang pinakamaraming reklamo, at sinong mga ahensya ang hindi sumasagot sa reklamo, (The DOTr will see what areas has the most complaints and what agencies don't respond to the complaints)" Tugade added.

The I-ACT is currently implementing the 'Tanggal Usok, Tanggal Bulok' campaign in different parts of Metro Manila, as well as nearby provinces such as Pampanga, Bulacan, and Rizal. A total of 1,904 PUVs have reportedly been apprehended for various violations ranging from defective parts, illegally franchised or 'colorum' vehicles, to smoke belching since the campaign’s launch last January 8, according to the latest data from the traffic council.