LTFRB limits bus drivers’ daily driving time to six hours 

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on Friday released a memorandum circular limiting the daily driving hours of public utility bus drivers to six hours in order to avoid road mishap.

"Nire-require lang po namin ang maximum six hours na pwedeng mag-biyahe ang isang bus driver, lagpas ng six hours kailangan mayroon ng alternate driver on board," LTFRB spokesperson and board member Aileen Lizada said in an interview on dzBB on Saturday.

"Tsaka ang conductor hindi pwedeng maging alternate driver. If mayroong accident [at] kung dahil dito sa violation na ito, let's say walang alternate driver at magkakaroon ng vehicular accident resulting in loss of lives, physical injuries or damage to property, magiging aggravating circumstance po 'yan, lalala ang penalties to the bus operator," she added.

Under Memorandum Circular 2017-012, PUB (public utility bus) operators are directed to require their drivers to drive for a maximum of six hours starting on April 9 (Sunday). 

"The conductor cannot be an alternate driver in order for him to provide continuous assistance to the passengers," it added.

Noncompliance with the memo, the LTFRB said, would have the following penalties:

• First Offense - P5,000

• Second Offense - P10,000 and suspension of 30 days

• Third Offense - Suspension of 60 days

ADVISORY
on Memorandum Circular No. 2017-012
effective 09 April 2017

re: HOURS OF DRIVING FOR PUBLIC UTILITY BUS (PUB) DRIVERS pic.twitter.com/Y4KzSCNRM7

— Official LTFRB (@LTFRB) April 7, 2017

LTFRB earlier approved a total of 1,153 special permits to augment the 8,000 franchised buses going in and out of Metro Manila during Holy Week, from April 9 to 17.

Lizada, meanwhile, said that they are expecting an estimated 232,000 passengers who will board buses to and from provinces during the Holy Week.  

She also said that they reminded UV Express operators to make sure that their passengers are comfortable during their trip.

"Yung mga UV express na legitimate, sinasabihan namin sila na 'wag ninyong i-full pack ang inyong mga sasakyan, kasi minsan parang mga sardinas na ang mga pasahero, hindi na sila komportable." 

Lizada also said that they have an intensified "anti-colorum" program especially this Holy Week. She also reminded the public not to patronize colorum vehicles to ensure their safety.

"Ang problema niyan, hindi kayo covered ng insurance, hindi namin nache-check ang mga papeles na yan, nagiging personal liability nung operator o driver yung sa inyo," she said. —Marlly Rome Bondoc/LBG, GMA News