LTFRB to 2 bus operators: Explain failure to deploy enough buses, pay drivers and conductors

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) issued on Monday show-cause orders against two busway consortiums operating along Edsa over failure to deploy the sufficient number of buses and “persistent reports” of non-payment of drivers’ and conductors’ salaries.

This, the LTFRB noted, is despite the fact that the two consortiums were paid under the government’s Libreng Sakay Program.

“Minabuti nating mag-issue ng show-cause order (we decided to issue a show-cause order), directing the two consortiums running the EDSA Busway why their franchise or special permit in running the EDSA Busway should not be canceled, suspended or that they are not penalized for deploying so few units,” LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra said in a statement.

According to Delgra, the agreed cap on the maximum allowable units of buses is at 550 but the two consortiums only averaged at around 120 units.

There were also “persistent reports” of drivers and conductors complaining about unpaid salaries even when the two consortiums had already been paid under a service contracting scheme.

“Mayroong kakulangan ang mga bus operators dito sa hindi pagbabayad ng mga sweldo ng kanilang mga tauhan. There is an employee-employer relationship doon sa mga bus operator and doon sa mga tsuper at konduktor that they hired,” Delgra explained.

(There is a shortcoming of bus operators here for not paying the salaries of their staff. There is an employee-employer relationship with the bus operators and the drivers and conductors that they hired.)

“I’d like to remind the bus operators, this is just not a contractual obligation but it is also an obligation that is mandated under the labor code. So, kailangan nilang bayaran ‘yang sweldo na ‘yan. Kikita man o sa palagay nilang malulugi sa palagay nila, kailangan paring bayaran ang sweldo,” he added.

(I’d like to remind the bus operators, this is just not a contractual obligation but it is also an obligation that is mandated under the labor code. So, they have to pay that salary. Whether they make money or think they will lose money, they still have to pay the salary.)

Meanwhile, Department of Transportation Assistant Secretary Mark Steven Pastor also reminded bus operators of their obligation to the public, explaining that “public transport is imbued with great public interest” especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also noted that since travel and mobility restrictions have recently been relaxed in Metro Manila as the nation’s capital region was placed under Alert Level 3 from October 16-31, more passengers may be expected.

“Alam natin na binaba dito sa NCR ang Alert Status to Level 3 kung kaya’t mas maraming pasahero ang sasakay. As Secretary [Arthur] Tugade always says— public health and public safety are at stake. Ipinapaalala natin sa mga kaibigang operators na itong ginagawa natin sa EDSA Busway or public transportation in general ay kinakailangan lagi tayong tumalima sa ating service level kung ilang units ang kinakailangang i-deploy at any given time,” Pastor said.

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