MANILA, Philippines – A local court has temporarily stopped the implementation of the highly-contested proposal to ban provincial buses from plying Epifanio delos Santos (Edsa).

In an order dated July 31 and released on August 2, the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 223 has granted the writ of preliminary injunction filed by 18 transport groups against the scheme.

The QC court said it found “just cause” to stop the ban and schedule the case for hearings.

The court said it needs to hear the side of the defendants of the case – the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) considering that “the matter on hand greatly impacts the welfare of the public.”

The proposed policy of the MMDA and the LTFRB prohibits provincial buses from traversing Edsa to decongest traffic. It also seeks to revoke business permits and shut down the operation of all provincial bus terminals located along Edsa.

The LTFRB also amended last month the routes for provincial buses traveling along the major thoroughfare.

A dry run for the policy is supposed to begin on August 7.

The court notes in its order that these measures would have “far-reaching effects” to the businesses, employees and other contracts of provincial bus companies. It added that the shortened routes would also affect the salary of employees.

“While as a rule, the right to income or earning does not prevail over public welfare, in the instant case since the Court has as yet not been presented with a clear basis or sufficient justification for the issuances, there is no reason to consider these issuances to have priority over the Plaintiffs’ rights as well as those that would suffer from their implementation,” the order read.

The court also asked the MMDA and the LTFRB on why point-to-point (P2P) buses are given privilege of plying Edsa even if their sizes were similar to those of regular buses.

It further said that since the said agencies failed to file a response, “no explanation or study has been presented to this Court to aid the latter in determining whether the provincial buses are indeed the cause of ‘horrendous traffic’ and if their ban and closure of their terminals is the best solution.”

“In view of the absence of any evidence on behalf of the Public Defendants, the evidence provided so far by the Plaintiffs tend to show that indeed, there was abuse in the issuance of the subject LTFRB MC and MMDA Regulation,” the order read.

The court gave the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), which represents the MMDA and the LTFRB, until August 14 to file a response to the case.

MANILA, Philippines – The Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) on Wednesday asked the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to explain alleged irregularities in its policies for the application of permit for transport network vehicle service (TNVS).

In its show-cause order, the ARTA directed LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra to explain within three days the purported delays in the processing of permits and other irregularities as complained by TNVS applicants.

Based on its order, the anti-red tape agency said that among the other irregularities “identified and determined” to have been committed by the LTFRB was its failure to enforce Memorandum Circular No. 2018-005; failure to conduct hearings and render decisions for an unreasonable length of time on applications for certificate of public convenience to operate TNVS; and implementing abrupt changes in the requirements and procedures for TNVS application without due notice to the public.

The ARTA said failure to explain the aforementioned issues could be tantamount to defying President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to stop red tape in the government.

In a message to reporters, Delgra confirmed he has received the notice and assured to submit an explanation addressing the allegations within the deadline.

ARTA’s order came after groups of TNVS driver and operators went offline earlier this month in protest of LTFRB’s alleged inconsistencies in its policies in terms of TNVS application and registration. (with details from Joan Nano)

MANILA, Philippines – A new memorandum circular amending the routes for provincial buses traveling along Edsa has been issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Under Memorandum Circular 2019-031, the LTFRB said all provincial buses from the north, whose terminals are located in Edsa, will temporarily stop at the Valenzuela Interim Terminal.

Buses coming from South Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, with terminals along Cubao, will end their trip at the Sta. Rosa Laguna Interim Terminal to load and unload passengers. But if their terminals are located in Edsa along Pasay City, they will drop off passengers at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).

“The routes of all City Buses are also deemed provisionally amended, extending their end point in the North to Valenzuela Interim Terminal and at Sta. Rosa Interim Terminal and Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange in the South,” the circular read.

The memo provides affected buses with window hours to cross Edsa, to be determined by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

The circular also stated that fares of affected buses by shortening or extending their routes shall match the actual distance per kilometer as authorized by the LTFRB.  

In a separate message to reporters, the Board said the memorandum circular complements the MMDA’s proposal to close all provincial bus terminals along Edsa.

The MMDA has been pushing to ban provincial buses from traversing Edsa and close all 47 provincial bus terminals located along Metro Manila’s major thoroughfare to ease heavy traffic.

However, the agency temporarily stopped the dry run pending the decision on a petition against the policy filed before the Supreme Court.

The memorandum circular stated that its provisions will only take effect upon closure of all public utility bus terminals along Edsa by concerned local government units, and the accreditation of the identified Interim Terminals.

Asked when the bus ban will be imposed, the MMDA hoped it will be soon.

According to MMDA Edsa Traffic Chief Bong Nebrija, the latest LTFRB circular and the proposed bus ban are among the issues to be discussed by the Metro Manila Council in a meeting set on Thursday (July 25).

“This is the one that we’ve been waiting for the guidelines that will set the wing on the implementation bus terminal closures on EDSA kasi we cannot close it without any alternatives so ito na yun,” he said.

The Provincial Bus Association of the Philippines has yet to comment on LTFRB’s new memorandum circular on bus routes. (with details from Joan Nano)