LTFRB: PUV capacity in NCR remains at 70% for holiday season

(FILE) Traditional and modern jeepneys share space on Pinatubo Street in Mandaluyong City. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Passenger capacity of public utility vehicles (PUV) in the National Capital Region (NCR) will remain at 70 percent this Christmas season despite consistently low rates of COVID-19 infections.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday released a memorandum circular on the updated guidelines on passenger capacity of PUVs. It will be implemented from Dec. 9 to Jan. 4, 2022.

The NCR is already at low-risk case classification for COVID-19 and the rest of the regions show decreasing average daily attack rates compared to previous weeks, the Department of Health said on Wednesday.

PUVs like jeepneys, railways, buses, and UV Express were allowed to carry more passengers in the NCR since November due to declining COVID-19 cases.

For regions surpassing the 30 percent vaccination rate as of Dec. 1, the passenger capacity will be increased from 50 percent to 70 percent, the LTFRB said.

For the rest of the regions, the passenger capacity will remain at 50 percent.

Adjustment in passenger capacity will be allowed in regions that will eventually increase their level of vaccination rate to more than 30 percent.

But prior to the implementation, their Regional Franchising and Regulatory Board should submit a memorandum to the board with a certification of vaccination rate from the Regional IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) or Department of Health Regional Office.

The LTFRB also released the guidelines on inter-regional routes.

For PUVs going to Metro Manila, the passenger capacity at the point of origin should be observed. For those PUVs coming from Metro Manila, the passenger capacity at the point of destination should be followed.

Those routes not covered by Metro Manila, the lowest passenger capacity in the concerned regions should be observed.

RELATED STORY: PH now minimal risk for COVID-19; NCR at low-risk case status — DOH

/MUF