15-year age limit for buses lifted

CEBU, Philippines - The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has lifted the implementation of the resolution that sets a 15-year age limit to buses and mini-buses.

The move came after bus operators nationwide showed vehement opposition to the resolution.

Julieto Flores, spokesperson of Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association said that the said implementation of the resolution was lifted last week pending consultation among concerned sector and further study.

LTFRB Resolution 2013-01 mandated the strict observance nationwide of the 15-year age limit of buses and mini-buses, even units with road worthiness and Motor Vehicle Inspection Section certificate.

In a meeting last February 5, majority of the bus and mini-bus operators in Cebu strongly opposed to the resolution.

“Daku ming supak kay kung ipatuman na, mahurot ang mga buses ug mini-buses nato dinhi sa Cebu,” Flores said.

Around 40 bus and mini-bus operators attended the meeting  so they can come up with a unified stand against the implementation of the  resolution that was issued on January 11, 2013 and received by the association last January 21.

The said resolution stated that no unit shall be the subject of a new application for franchise, for extension of validity of certificate of public convenience (CPC), for substitute of unit and for increase of number of units, if said unit is more than the minimum requirement as specified by the time of expiration of the covering CPC.

Flores, who is also the president of the Cebu South Mini-bus Operators,  personally submitted their opposition two weeks ago to the Department of Transportation and Communication and LTFRB in Manila.

Flores said about 80 percent of the buses in Cebu will be affected if the resolution will be implemented while around 50 percent of the mini-buses will suffer the same fate.

There are around 1,600 buses and mini-buses operating in Cebu based on LTFRB-7 records.

Flores said they asked for additional ten years to the age limit as majority of the buses and mini-buses in Cebu are roadworthy.

Flores added that each bus unit costs a million and it would be unwise to junk these vehicles just because these already reached the 15-year-old limit.

LTFRB chairman Jaime Jacob in his latest visit to explained that putting an age limit for a public vehicle to operate is meant for the safety of both passengers and the drivers.  (FREEMAN)