LTFRB-7 issues special permits for PUVs anew

CEBU, Philippines —  The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-7 has started reissuing  special permits for modern public utility jeepneys and provincial buses to address the shortage of public transportation experienced in some routes following the lifting of all special permits on December 1.

LTFRB-7 director Eduardo Montealto said the new special permits are valid within five to 30 days.

“Nag isyu na sad ko og new special permits since Friday. Dili sad ta basta basta maka issue og special permit kay naa pud uban operators moreklamo nga maigo ang existing nilang rota. Mao na nga atong ibalanse ang need of vehicles versus the number of passengers,” Montealto said.

Some of the routes in Metro Cebu experienced a shortage of public transportation after all special permits were lifted on December 1, 2022. All public jeepneys and buses were ordered to return to their regular route leaving a vacuum in some areas.

Meanwhile, at least 70 percent of the local government units (LGUs) in Cebu have already complied with the Local Public Transport Route Plan or LPTRP.

The absence of LPTRP in some LGUs has resulted in the shortage of public transportation.

“Nagtoo man gud ang ubang LGUs nga ang LTFRB maoy mo determine sa mga ruta sa ilang jurisdiction. Ang LTFRB igo ra mi mo issue og prangkisa,” Montealto said.

The LPTRP is in accordance with directive of the Department of Transportation. It is mandated under Department Order No. 2017-011 otherwise known as the Omnibus Guidelines on the Planning and Identification of Public Road Transportation Services and Franchise Issuance.

Since the start of the pandemic in 2020,  the LTFRB-7 has been issuing special permits for modernize and traditional jeepneys, buses, taxis, Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS), UV Express Service and tourist vans  to ensure that only those who complied with the health standards and protocols are given special permits to operate to serve various routes in Cebu.

Those who applied for a special permit should have valid franchise and passenger insurance policy per unit. — FPL  (FREEMAN)