MANILA, Philippines – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has assured there will be enough bus units to accommodate the influx of passengers expected this holiday season.

The LTFRB said a total of 968 special permits will be granted to public utility buses (PUB) which will allow them to ply major thoroughfares.

These bus units will cater to passengers traveling to North Luzon, South Luzon, Bicol, Visayas and Mindanao.

The LTFRB assured that special permits will be granted to bus units that underwent vigorous inspection process, adding that it sets high priority on the vehicle’s road worthiness as well as the readiness of bus drivers to ensure comfortable and safe travel.

The special permit, granted in line with the agency’s Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Pasko 2019 covers the period from December 23, 2019 to January 3, 2020.

Aside from additional bus units for travelers this holiday season, the LTFRB said Malasakit Help Desks will also be set up to accommodate complaints and other concerns from passengers.

Meanwhile, the agency is set to conduct inspections on bus terminals and garages starting on the third week of December “to check for compliance for the required facility standards.”

The LTFRB will inspect if bus companies have implemented appropriate security protocols, comfortable waiting areas and clean restrooms, among others.

MANILA, Philippines – A regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has been dismissed from office over alleged extortion in Bicol.

In a statement, the LTFRB said that Bicol Director II Vladimir Custer Kahulugan was ordered terminated by the Office of the President in an order released last November 28.

LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra said Kahulugan was sacked after he was allegedly found demanding “monthly protection money” from operators of public utility vehicles (PUV) in the Bicol region.

The Investigation, Security, and Law Enforcement Staff of the Department of Transportation conducted an investigation into Kahulugan following a complaint from a bus operator.

Delgra said that probe findings reaching his office indicated that Kahulugan, together with four other members of the LTFRB enforcement team, have been allegedly collecting money from PUV operators.

The agency said Kahulugan’s alleged cohorts, identified as Narciso Juntereal, Robert Pacurib, Jose Pado, and Eduardo Felix, reportedly evaded an entrapment operation launched in July.

Investigating officials also found that Kahulugan’s team was allegedly involved in “hulidap” operations where they apprehend PUVs and subsequently released in exchange for grease money.

“Likewise, Kahulugan’s group were found allegedly “protecting” drivers and operators of colorum vehicles,” the LTFRB added.

The DOTR investigators have recommended the filing of criminal charges against Kahulugan, and the deactivation of the Bicol Inter-Agency Road Safety Operation (BIARSO) organized against colorum vehicles, which he allegedly used in his extortion activities.

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) reiterates that all fresh, frozen, and processed pork products and by-products like sausages and are prohibited inside all public utility vehicles (PUVs) if carrier doesn’t have the needed permits.

This ban on transport of pork and pork products through common public transport such as PUVs is in line with the government’s efforts to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) across the country.

Carriers will only be allowed to transport pork products provided they presented the necessary documents at designated Animal Quarantine Checkpoints in disease outbreak areas.

According to LTFRB, violators will be fined of up to P200,000 in accordance with Republic Act 10536 otherwise known as the Meat Inspection Code of the Philippines.