MANILA, Philippines — Twelve modified provincial bus routes will be opened by Sept. 30 to ferry more passengers going to Metro Manila, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said on Saturday.
This was made possible after the LTFRB signed Memorandum Circular 2020-051 which also allowed the resumption of operations of public utility buses (PUBs) with valid and existing certificates of public convenience or applications for extension of validity to resume operations.
To open are the following provincial bus routes:
1. San Fernando, Pampanga – Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City
2. Batangas City, Batangas – Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITx)
3. Lemery, Batangas – PITx
4. Lipa City, Batangas – PITx
5. Nasugbu, Batangas – PITx
6. Indang, Cavite – PITx
7. Mendez, Cavite – PITx
8. Tagaytay City, Cavite – PITx
9. Ternate, Cavite – PITx
10. Calamba City, Laguna – PITx
11. Siniloan, Laguna – PITx
12. Sta. Cruz, Laguna – PITx
Under the memorandum, the LTFRB said the resumption of provincial bus routes going to Metro Manila will be approved by the local government units and by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
“Resumption of operations for provincial buses on routes touching/entering Metro Manila shall be implemented upon approval of concerned local government units and coordination with the IATF,” read the memorandum.
The LTFRB added that provincial buses allowed to use the opened provincial routes must use the QR code that can be accessed at ltfrb.gov.ph.
Provincial buses said the LTFRB, must drop-off or pick-up commuters only at designated stopover points and terminals.
“Bawal ang pagbaba at pagsakay sa anumang parte ng provincial route maliban na lang sa mga itinalagang stopover points at terminal kung saan huling titigil ang mga PUB,” read LTFRB’s statement.
(Pick-ups and drop-off are not allowed at any part of the provincial routes except for the designated stopover points and terminals or the PUB’s last destination.)
The LTFRB also said the 1-meter social distancing between passengers inside provincial buses must be strictly observed.
Requirements for passengers
The LTFRB reminds passengers to present the following requirements before boarding the buses:
- travel authority
- valid identification card (must include the passenger’s address, place of origin, age, workplace or school
written consent of passenger approving that he/she will submit to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing or quarantine at the terminal or place of origin - Other documents required by the concerned LGUs or the IATF
In addition, passengers must get their bus tickets at least two days before their day of travel.
“Ipinagbabawal ang pagbili ng trip ticket sa araw mismo ng pagbiyahe maliban na lang kung ito ay isang emergency tulad ng problema sa pamilya o sa kalusugan,” LTFRB said.
(We prohibit the buying of tickets on the day of travel itself except if it is an emergency like a family or health-related issue.)
Rules inside buses
Inside the buses, passengers and drivers must wear face masks as well as face shields, bring alcohol, and follow social distancing, the LTFRB said.
The LTFRB said eating, drinking, talking to other passengers as well as taking calls from their cellphones while inside the bus are not allowed.