LTFRB to add PUVs
MANILA, Philippines —The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is plan ning to deploy more public utility vehicles (PUVs) to provide free rides to commuters from the North Luzon Express Terminal (NLET) in Bocaue, Bulacan to address the lack of buses going to Metro Manila.
LTFRB executive director Maria Kristina Cassion said yesterday more units would be added to the current fleet of PUVs from NLET going to Araneta Center in Cubao and Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange under the government’s service contracting program.
“In the coming days madadagdagan pa yung mga connectivity natin na libreng sakay,” Cassion said in an interview over dzBB.
In a text message, Cassion said there are 34 PUVs for each of the routes and 14 from the Dau terminal in Mabalacat, Pampanga.
The Department of Transportation and LTFRB resumed their service contracting program to help PUV operators and drivers cope with the pandemic and soaring fuel prices.
Under the program, PUV drivers and operators will provide free rides to commuters and will be compensated by the government on a weekly basis.
The government will shoulder the fuel expenses, disinfection, monthly amortizations and other overhead costs.
PUV drivers and operators will be paid based on the number of trips traveled per week.
The plan to add more PUVs from NLET is seen to address the lack of units from six bus provincial companies that refuse to ply their routes, leaving passengers stranded at terminals.
The transport regulator had earlier served show-cause orders to Victory Liner, Bataan Transit, Five Star Bus Co., Maria de Leon Trans and the First North Luzon Transit Inc. Genesis Transport is also set to receive a show-cause notice.
The LTFRB ordered the bus firms to explain why it failed to deploy buses outside the window hours set by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
The bus companies stopped operations, citing the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. window for them to use their private terminals.
The LTFRB and MMDA clarified that buses can still operate outside the window hours provided they end their trip at the government’s designated integrated terminals.
Cassion criticized the bus companies for holding the riding public hostage to force the government to allow them to use their private terminals.
“Hindi naman po puwede ‘yun kasi meron naman po tayong kailangan regulasyon na susundin doon sila sa integrated terminals,” she said.