LTFRB: More buses allowed to operate under Level 1

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has allowed all remaining provincial buses to operate on inter-regional routes, which were closed during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as Metro Manila is expected to de-escalate to Alert Level 1 next week.

In a statement, the LTFRB said bus operators that have active certificates of public convenience and those with pending applications for extension of validity, as well as provisional authority and special permits are allowed to operate under Alert Level 1.

“These include buses in Calabarzon with endpoint in Cubao, Quezon City that were transferred to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX). They will be allowed to return to their original terminal at the Araneta bus station,” the transport regulator said.

Provincial bus routes with pre-COVID endpoints in Buendia, Makati, Pasay and Manila will remain at the PITX terminal.

The routes of provincial buses from Bicol, Mimaropa and Quezon must end at the PITX even if they have pre-COVID franchises with an endpoint in Cubao.

The LTFRB said bus operators need to secure a QR code for each authorized unit. The QR code must be posted on the front windshield.