69,000 PUVs ready to ferry commuters – LTFRB

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has assured commuters that over 69,000 public utility vehicles are available to serve them amid concerns on the re-implementation of the strict one-meter distancing policy in mass transportation.

In a statement, the LTFRB said it is continuously reopening public transportation routes to serve the public amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Its data showed 378 routes being served by different transport modes in Metro Manila alone. This includes 3,854 public utility buses, 386 point-to-point buses, as well as 1,905 UV Express Service units covering a total of 127 routes.

These are aside from 1,737 traditional jeepneys and 486 modern jeepneys that cover 241 routes.

Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddes Libiran said they are still going to clarify with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases if the current 50 percent reduced allowed capacity of public buses will be maintained or be replaced with the one-meter-distance policy.

She said if the one-meter distance will be strictly implemented in buses, this will reduce the allowed capacity to less than 50 percent.

Earlier, the Department of Transportation wanted to reduce physical distancing in PUVs to only 0.75 meter, but this was disputed by several sectors fearing that it might not be effective in controlling the spread of COVID-19.

Some medical experts and even the head of the Department of Health said they would rather keep the one-meter distance as recommended by the World Health Organization.