MANILA, Philippines – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced it is opening five more routes for 440 provincial utility buses starting December 24.

The LTFRB said the move was based on memorandum circulars 2020-051G and 2020-051H which were issued on December 21.

The following are the routes that will be opened on Thursday:

• Baguio City – Mariveles, Bataan
• Baguio City – Olongapo, Zambales
• North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) – Baguio City
• North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) – Laoag City, Ilocos Norte
• North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) – Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte

The LTFRB said roadworthy public utility vehicles with valid and existing certificates of public convenience or application for extension of validity will be allowed to travel.

These vehicles must also have a registered personal passenger insurance policy for each unit allowed to ply in approved routes.

The LTFRB said operators are required to post QR code on their vehicles which can download from its website.

The agency also reminded operators and passengers to strictly adhere to safety and health protocols amid the continuing threat of novel coronavirus disease.

Operators and drivers who will violate health protocols and policies may face sanctions including franchise suspension. – RRD (with details from Correspondent Joan Nano)

MANILA, Philippines – Magbubukas na sa susunod na linggo ang Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) ng sampung ruta para sa pagbiyahe ng 269 point-to-point (P2P) provincial buses papasok at palabas ng Metro Manila.

Ayon sa LTFRB, alinsunod ito sa memorandum circular 2020-082 na inilabas matapos payagan ng Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) ang pagpasada ng mga provincial bus sa mga pinapayagang point-to-point routes.

Sa ilalim ng memorandum circular, ang mga ruta na bubuksan sa Disyembre 21 ay ang mga sumusunod:

• Clark, Pampanga – SM North EDSA
• Clark, Pampanga – NAIA Terminal (With Limited Stop in Ortigas)
• Clark, Pampanga – Lubao, Pampanga (With Specials Stops in San Fernando and Angeles City)
• Clark, Pampanga – Dagupan, Pangasinan (With Special Stops at Rosales and Urdaneta, Pangasinan)
• Clark, Pampanga – Subic, Zambales (With Special Stop at Dinalupihan, Bataan)
• NAIA/Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITx) – Baguio City
• Batangas City – Ortigas
• Batangas City – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITx)
• Lipa City, Batangas – Ortigas
• Lipa City, Batangas – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITx)

Ayon sa LTFRB, maaaring magbiyahe ang mga roadworthy PUV na may valid at existing Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) o Application for Extension of Validity, at kinakailangang naka-rehistro sa Personal Passenger Insurance Policy ang bawat unit sa mga rutang nakapaloob sa MC.

Binigyang-diin naman ng ahensiya na kailangan ng special permit ang mga provincial P2P bus na bibiyahe sa mga inter-regional routes sa labas ng Metro Manila.

Maaaring mag-apply ng special permit sa pamamagitan ng pagpapadala ng mensahe sa technical@ltfrb.gov.ph.

Kailangan ding sumunod ang pick up at drop off terminals ng mga naturang bus sa health at safety protocols bago payagang mag-operate ng local government units.

Muli namang ipinapaalala ng ahensya na walang ipatutupad na taas-pasahe sa mga naturang provincial P2P bus, maliban na lang kung ipag-uutos ito ng LTFRB.

Bukod diyan, kinakailangan sumunod ng mga PUV sa mga alituntunin ng IATF at local government units kaugnay ng health protocols bago sila makabiyahe.

Ang sinumang mahuling lalabag sa mga probisyon ng memorandum circular ay papatawan ng kaukulang parusa

MANILA, Philippines — Provincial bus operators are gearing up for the surge of passengers bound for the provinces this holiday season especially in implementing strict health and safety protocols against coronavirus disease (COVID-19). 

The group welcomes the opportunity to operate as they expect more routes to open for provincial buses.

“We are very grateful dun sa decision ng Malacañang and kung ano man yung safety protocols we are willing to abide by all the safety protocols. Willing na willing kami at welcome na welcome yang announcement na yan,” said Alex Yage, President of the Provincial Bus Operators Association.

But the group wants to have a specific list of routes that will open for provincial buses considering that several provinces still couldn’t open their borders for travellers from Metro Manila.

The group also appeals to authorities to allow them to reopen their terminals in Metro Manila to minimize inconvenience for transiting passengers.

Based on the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) data, several routes have been reopened for provincial buses since the month of September.

These routes include:

• Batangas
• Laguna
• Cavite
• Bulacan
• Pampanga (San Fernando, Apalit)
• Iloilo
• Antique

Meanwhile, there remain no available routes open for the following provinces:

• Ilocos Region
• Bicol Region
• Cordillera Region
• Pangasinan
• Tarlac
• Zambales
• Aurora
• Quezon Province

MNP (with reports from Joan Nano)