LTFRB orders bus operators to install GPS devices

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is giving operators of provincial buses until April 30 to install global positioning systems on all their bus units.

LTFRB Chair Winston Ginez said the board will have increase capabilities to monitor public utility buses with the new technologies.

"The LTFRB's main aim is to protect the safety of the riding public by regulating the speed limit of buses traversing our national roads and highways," Ginez said in a statement Friday.

Ginez said the GPS devices will help government to check which units are violating speed limits and routes proper to their franchise.

The LTFRB released memorandum circulars 2015-021 and 2015-026 setting deadlines for the installation of the tracking devices.

For provincial buses entering Metro Manila: on or before April 30, 2016
For Metro Manila buses: May 1 to August 30, 2016
For inter-regional buses not entering Metro Manila: September 1 to December 31, 2016
For intra-regional buses: January 1 to April 30, 2017

The board recommended four types of GPS devices, which it says conformed with technical specifications and passed testing procedures of the LTFRB, the Department of Transporation and Communications and the Department of Science and Technology.

Bus operators who fail to install GPS devices will be penalized P5,000 for each unit. After the 30-day grace period from the end of the compliance period, an additional penalty of P1,000 per month will be imposed.

The LTFRB will also penalize operators or drivers found tampering with the devices: P5,000 for the first offense; P10,000 for the second offense; and P15,000 and the suspension of their certificate of public convenience for 30 days for the third and subsequent offenses.