LTFRB issues special permits to passenger buses to accommodate travelers

MANILA, Philippines—The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued special permits allowing Metro Manila and provincial public buses to go out of line to accommodate increased passengers heading to the provinces for “Undas” or the annual commemoration of the dead.

As of Wednesday morning, LTFRB chair Winston Ginez said the board has already approved permits for 607 units to address the expected exodus on All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day this weekend.

Earlier, Ginez said the board received 900 applications for the special permits. The permits will be effective until November 3, from October 30 or their date of issuance.

“Last year, we approved [permits for] 600 units,” Ginez said.

INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON

Ginez said most of the applications were for buses heading to provinces in northern and southern Luzon, but some were also bound for the Visayas region.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be lifting the number coding on provincial buses starting October 30 (Thursday) until November 2 (Sunday).

“We’re doing this early to encourage people to go to their provinces earlier [for ‘Undas’],” MMDA chair Francis Tolentino told the media, on the sidelines of an inspection at the Araneta Center Bus Terminal in Cubao on Wednesday morning.

Tolentino assured the public that major Metro Manila roads would be cleared of repairs to ensure smooth traffic flow during the exodus to the provinces.

“Our arrangement with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was that there will be no re-blocking this weekend. They will also finish the repairs on [the one-kilometer stretch of] Roxas Boulevard going to the Baclaran area. They will also halt daytime repairs on the Magallanes interchange,” Tolentino said.

“So even if the number of buses increase, at least there will be no big road repairs,” Tolentino said.

The MMDA inspection at the Cubao terminal at 7 a.m. included subjecting 18 drivers to a random test with a breathalyzer to determine whether they were intoxicated.

Only one driver, Edgar Larrarte of the Peñafrancia lines, tested positive with a reading of 0.037 blood alcohol content in his breath. Larrarte admitted he had gone drinking the night before until 1 a.m., so he could sleep easier.

However, Larrarte was able to get off with a warning as he was still not on duty at the time of testing. Larrarte was scheduled to drive to Naga city at 8:30 a.m. Tolentino said he simply advised Larrarte to rest, and for his management not to let him drive until the alcohol was completely cleared from his system.

Even if the reading is low, public utility drivers (PUVs) are required to be completely sober while driving, or to register a “zero” reading when subjected to breath analyzers, according to Chief Insp. Rey Arada of the MMDA Personnel Inspection and Monitoring Group.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police has readied its All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day security deployment in cemeteries, bus terminals, ports, and major tourist destinations.

Apart from the 41,602 police officers to be deployed nationwide under the “Oplan Ligtas Undas 2014 (Operation Safe All Souls’-All Saints’ Days 2014),” the PNP will also mobilize 50,000 force multipliers consisting of barangay watchmen and peace-keeping action teams, private security guards and civilian volunteers, Senior Supt. Wilben Mayor, the PNP spokesman, has said.