LTFRB eyes reopening of 35 old bus routes ahead of face-to-face classes

FILE PHOTO Commuters queue for a ride at the EDSA Bus Carousel in Monumento, Caloocan City. (File photo by GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday plans to reopen at least 35 old bus routes in portions of Metro Manila ahead of the resumption of face-to-face classes.

The opening of classes for school year 2022-2023 is set on August 22, and schools may implement in-person classes as early as August or have a blended learning modality (online and in-person classes).

Schools are ordered to implement five-day face-to-face classes by November 2 fully.

READ: DepEd eyes August 22 class opening

“In response dito sa magiging face-to-face classes natin, ang pagbubukas ng mga dating ruta [ng mga bus] ay tinutukan namin ngayon. May mga na-identify na kami [na] at least mga 35 routes na ma-o-open na hopefully before mag-start ang face-to-face classes,” LTFRB Chairperson Cheloy Garafil said in an interview over One News PH.

(In response to the resumption of face-to-face classes, we have been focusing on reopening old bus routes. We have already identified at least 35 routes to be reopened before the face-to-face classes start.)

Garafil noted that only 30 percent of old bus routes would be reinstated, including within the University Belt, South to Lawton, North to nearby school areas, and Commonwealth Avenue.

“‘Yung 30 percent initially, ‘yan ‘yong mag-a-address do’n sa need na mabuksan ‘yong mga lumang ruta to respond to the face-to-face classes,” the LTFRB chairperson said.

(The 30 percent of old bus routes will initially address the need to reopen the old routes to respond to face-to-face classes.)

READ: Pre-pandemic routes of public transport to reopen — MMDA

“Marami diyan [sa mga ruta] ‘yong sa University Belt, marami diyan from the South going to Lawton, marami diyan from Commonwealth area, at tsaka marami din diyan from the North going to [sa] mga school areas natin,” she added.

(Many of these routes are within the University Belt, South going to Lawton, Commonwealth area, and those coming from the North going to our school areas.)

Garafil also said that restoring 100 percent of the old bus routes “will be a challenge” since the EDSA Busway Carousel is still effective until the end of the year.

“About ‘yong sa 100 percent na [ng mga lumang] ruta na ma-o-open, medyo magiging challenge ‘yan because we have the EDSA Busway Carousel. So, at least hanggang end of the year, hindi siya magiging option for us to reopen [the] Edsa [routes],” Garafil said.

(About the 100 percent reopening of the old routes, it would be challenging because we have the EDSA Busway Carousel. So, at least until the end of the year, it wouldn’t be an option for us to reopen the routes in Edsa.)

If pursued, the total capacity in reopening old bus routes is poised to happen next year, Garafil said. — Iliana Padigos, INQUIRER.net intern

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