Standing passengers on buses, modern jeeps now allowed in areas under Alert Level 1

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority inspects the EDSA Busway Carousel – Monumento Station in Quezon City on Friday, September 23. Courtesy of MMDA Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — Standing passengers inside selected public utility vehicles (PUVs) are now allowed in areas under Alert Level 1, said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Monday.

According to LTFRB in a statement on Monday, Memorandum Circular No. 2022-070 now allows Public Utility Buses (PUBs) and Modern Public Utility Jeepneys (MPUJ) Class 2 to have standing passengers with the following conditions:

• Low-Entry/Low Floor PUB – a maximum of 15 standing passengers will be allowed, one-person apart
• Coach-type PUB – a maximum of 10 standing passengers will be allowed, one-person apart
• MPUJ Class 2 – a maximum of five standing passengers will be allowed, one-person apart

The LTFRB said the policy is per the Department of Transportation (DOTr) order to make the most of the spaces in PUVs without violating public health safety protocols, which will be effective starting Monday, Sept. 26.

The agency also warned that PUVs found in a breach would be fined according to the terms of their Certificate of Public Convenience and Joint Administrative Order 2014-01.

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