LTFRB Region III Anti-Colorum Enforcers Get Insurance

Leading the activity was LTFRB-3 Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon and Armando Magno, General Agency Manager of CLIMBS Life and General Insurance Cooperative.

"Insurance coverage is a necessity for anti-colorum enforcers who are constantly under threat due to the nature of their jobs," Cuizon explained.

No less than President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered an all-out campaign against colorum or illegal public utility vehicles that have no franchises to operate and are non-compliant with safety standards.

Due to the stiff penalties that await colorum operators, enforcers are thus exposed to possible violent retaliations. Recently, a team of government anti-colorum enforcers were ambushed near Surigao City, resulting in one death and injuries for two others.

"Families of enforcers who fall victims to such violent acts end up receiving no benefits as they are usually on temporary employment or on job order status. We sincerely want to help them," Cuizon stressed.

As a demonstration of the LTFRB-3 management's concern for the anti-colorum workers and their families, Cuizon has charged one-half of the annual insurance premiums to his extra-ordinary expenses while the other half is shouldered by the enforcers themselves.

The 50-50 sharing scheme was welcomed by the enforcers.

"While we don't hope for any unfortunate incident, our enforcers are happy over this management initiative that would benefit their families," Jess Sison, head of the region's anti-colorum team said.

The insurance provides a coverage of PHP100,000 for accidental death, PHP50,000 for unprovoked murder or assault, PHP25,000 for death due to natural causes such as illnesses, and PHP15,000 for funeral services assistance.

LTFRB-3 will soon expand the insurance to its Regional Project Management Office under the agency's Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.

"The personnel of this unit do a lot of site surveys and ocular visits of study areas that expose them to various hazards. As such, there is a need to provide them with insurance as well," Ayda Flores, LTFRB-3 Administrative Officer revealed.