The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Central Luzon said a total of 2,004 public utility jeepneys (PUJ), 96 public utility buses (PUBs), 84 units of Transport Vehicle Network Service (TVNS) and 100 taxi units rolled out at the start of the General Community Quarantine.
Chief Transportation Development Officer, LTFRB Region 3, Atty. Theresa Magtoto said: “We have to follow the hierarchy, so if there will be application from bus operators, they will be prioritized, because under the rules we have to give more priority to those vehicle having a bigger capacity to better implement the social distancing and more passengers to accommodate.”
Some of the intra-provincial and intra-regional routes were opened to Public Utility Vehicles to pass through.
“We opened routes that were available for the buses to apply but here in the region we are still limited for the buses for intra-regional and intra-provincial. The routes we’ve open were all open for public utility,” said Atty. Magtoto.
To address the predicaments of operators and drivers regarding low profit due to the cutting down in half of the number of passengers, the LTFRB recommends to the national government a fuel subsidy as an aid to the transport industry.
The agency stressed there was no approved fare hike at the time of GCQ.
“As far as Memorandum Circular 2020-017 is concerned, fares were already set, we have to stick on those. To help operators and drivers, LTFRB is appealing to national government to give fuel subsidy,” said Magtoto.
Those who will charge a higher fare for passengers without approval of LTFRB will be liable for overcharging and fine of P5,000 pesos for each violation.