Travelers carrying pets urged: Be polite towards co-passengers on PUVs

Owners should be responsible and sensitive towards other passengers when riding public utility vehicles (PUVs) with their furry friends.

Ang Probinsyano party-list Representative Ronnie Ong made the remark on Sunday after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) released a memorandum circular that allows pets to ride PUVs like buses, jeepneys, UV Express services, among others as long as their pets are in cages or animal carriers.

"There's a certain responsibility for the LTFRB or the government to somehow take care of these pet owners. There's also responsibility for pet owners to make sure na safe din naman ang mga isasakay nilang pets sa riding public. Responsibilidad din nila yun," Ong, a self-confessed pet lover, said.

"Responsibilidad din natin as pet owners to make sure yung riding public, safe din sila. And siyempre, be sensitive din kung medyo may foul odor, hindi natin talaga pwedeng isakay," he added.

Under LTFRB's Memorandum Circular 2020-003, pet animals such as cats and dogs are allowed to be loaded and transported on PUVs effective February 10.

The memorandum circular, however, provides the following conditions:

• If pet animals are to be loaded on mass transport, without having to compromise safety, health issues, and convenience of other passengers, said pet animals must be put in a cage or animal carrier free from the foul odor.
• Passenger-owner must ensure that pets wear animal diapers to maintain cleanliness and sanitation at all times during the journey.
• Dog sizes must be the range of small to medium, as large and giant dogs will not be allowed.
• Pets placed inside carriers or cages must be beside the passenger-owner, and must pay the corresponding fare the same as that of the paying passenger owner per seat occupied.

Ong said he had lobbied for the release of the memorandum order after he saw the viral video of a dog who was loaded in the compartment of a bus en route to Masbate. —Erwin Colcol/LBG, GMA News