UV Express restriction deferred

For now, commuters and regular riders of the UV Express can heave a sigh of relief, as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Friday said it was deferring until after public consultation the implementation of a memorandum circular (MC) that restricted the operation of UV Express on a terminal-to-terminal basis.

Martin Delgra, LTFRB chair, said the agency would have to “put on hold [the MC’s implementation] until after consultations with bus and jeepney operators.”

The announcement came a day after transport and labor groups appealed to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court to issue a temporary restraining order and writ of preliminary mandatory injunction against MC No. 2019-25, which the groups described as “despotic” and “unjust.”

No consultations

The MC, which was expected to take effect mid-June, abolishes the provision in a previous circular that allowed UV Express vans to pick up and drop off passengers within 2 kilometers of their designated endpoints.

In their petition, Stop and Go Transport Coalition and labor group Defend Job Philippines slammed the board for unilaterally pushing the MC without first consulting with stakeholders.

Despite the LTFRB’s deferment, petitioner Jun Magno said they would push through with the court appeal “unless the [LTFRB] recalls the [circular] or accepts our proposal to put in place selected designated loading points.”

Drop-off points

In a separate June 13 letter, Lawyers for Commuters’ Safety and Protection and the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations urged the LTFRB to seriously consider providing specific drop-off points that “can even be used by other public utility vehicles plying the route.”

In their letter, the groups said: “When the welfare and need of the public are at stake, the government has all the means and authority to be flexible and to consider all angles to arrive at a sound resolution.”

Upholding terms

This is the first time that the LTFRB has softened its stance on the issue since approving the MC on May 15,  after repeatedly asserting that it did not need to consult the public as it was merely upholding the terms and conditions stipulated on the franchise issued to UV Express.

But transport and commuter groups resisted the circular, leading Congress to order the LTFRB and the Department of Transportation to suspend its implementation for two weeks.