Bus owners warn against phase out of old fleet

BUS operators warned of a transportation crisis in Cebu and other parts of the country if the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will push through with the phase out of units 15 years old and above.

Julito Flores, president of the Cebu South Mini-Bus Operators Association, said the bus operators agreed during their meeting yesterday to hire legal counsel to file a temporary restraining order on the LTFRB move in court.

Flores referred to LTFRB Resolution 2013-01 which won’t renew the certificates of public convenience to franchises of buses that are 15 years old and above. The resolution was supposed to take affect after February 28, Flores said

Flores said several bus companies will be affected including his own bus company. He said even if he operates 12-year-old mini buses, he still has at least five units that will be affected by the resolution. Flores also cited a bus company in northern Cebu and Toledo City whose units are over 15 years old.

Regional LTFRB Director Ahmed Cuizon agreed with Flores, saying it can impact on the country’s mass transport system.

Cuizon said he already raised this concern during the first national management conference last month in Batangas and his sentiment was shared by other regional offices.

“In the long run it will be detrimental to the public because of fewer buses. It will also affect not only the personal convenience of the passengers but also the economic activities of the province,” he said.

Cuizon said he ordered his records officer Bong Zamora to do an inventory on all bus units, including tourist buses, company shuttles and school buses.

“Immediately after the inventory, we will submit this to Manila to support our sentiments,” Cuizon added. Correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan