LTFRB: Metro has ‘more than enough public buses’
Saying Metro Manila already has “more than enough” public utility buses, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Tueday announced a “grand plan” to go after “colorum” or illegal PUBs and commuter Asian utility vehicles (AUVs).
The board launched the campaign a week after the City of Manila imposed an ordinance limiting the number of buses that can enter the city.
Although the ban in Manila was directed at colorum buses, its first days of implementation saw Vice Mayor Francisco Domagoso stressing that the LTFRB should first consult local government units about their respective road capacities before issuing any new franchise for public transportation.
In a statement, LTFRB Chair Winston Ginez explained that the bureau had long suspended the issuance of new bus franchises “since there are more than enough PUBs plying the metropolis.”
“LTFRB carefully reviews all application for PUBs and we do not grant permits if we recognize that the number of buses in one route is enough to serve the needs of commuters in that specific area,” Ginez said. “Our focus now is on colorum buses to decongest our roads.”
“We recognize the acute traffic congestion problem in the metropolis which resulted in our city mayors implementing ordinances to address the issue,” Ginez said, referring to the ban in Manila.
“We support and recognize the efforts of city mayors in addressing traffic congestion in their areas by experimenting with transport ordinances to limit the number of buses entering Manila,” he added.
“We want to work with them [city mayors] and other government agencies in our fight against colorum buses and AUVs. However, we want them to also consider the legality of bus franchises,” Ginez said.
The cooperation of other government agencies would be crucial in curbing the proliferation of colorum vehicles, he said.
The new campaign will also involve the Department of Transportation and Communications, Department of Interior and Local Government, Land Transportation Office, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Philippine National Police and local government units.—Miguel R. Camus, Inquirer Business
