No hearing held before LTFRB amended provincial bus routes —commuters’ advocate

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board's (LTFRB) recent amendment of routes for provincial buses did not follow due process that required a hearing, according to the Lawyers for Commuters Safety on Wednesday.

"Ang ginawa nila ay kaagad naglabas ng memorandum circular na pinuputol nila 'yung mga linya ng provincial buses at hindi makakapasok ng Metro Manila," the advocacy group's president Ariel Inton said in a Balitanghali interview.

"As a former Board member, hindi pwedeng magputol ka ng linya ng ganun through memorandum circular nang walang hearing na nagaganap," he added.

"Kailangan mayroong notice of hearing bago ka mag-amend o magputol o magbago ruta ng isang public utility vehicle... iba 'yung hearing sa konsultasyon at sa tingin ko diyan nagkulang ang LTFRB."

According to LTFRB Memorandum 2019-031, signed on July 9, all provincial buses coming from the north with terminals along EDSA are to end stop at the Valenzuela Interim Terminal.

Those coming from South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao with terminals along EDSA in Cubao, Quezon City will end at the Sta. Rosa Interim Terminal.

Inton also pointed out that the LTFRB did not wait for the Supreme Court's decision on the petition filed by the AKO BICOL party-list and Albay Representative Joey Salceda against the proposed provincial bus ban.

"Hayaan muna natin ang Korte Suprema na mag-decide sa kaso," he said.

According to Inton, around 30,000 commuters may be affected by the provincial bus ban which may possibly start soon.

He also suggested that provincial buses be allowed to operate as city buses to solve the traffic issue on EDSA.

"Bakit 'yung pasahero ang pahihirapan mo samantalang mas mainam na 'yung sinakyan niya mula sa kanila eh 'yun ang gawin mong city operations? Hindi na ngayon mangangailangan ng terminal sa Metro Manila dahil labas-pasok na lang siya. Diyan po masosolusyunan mo 'yung sinasabi nilang pampasikip na traffic 'yung provincial bus terminal," he said.

Moreover, Inton said that their group will observe the action of the Metro Manila mayors as the memorandum states that the circular "shall only take effect upon the closure of all public utility bus terminals along EDSA by concerned local governments and accreditation of the identified interim terminals."

GMA News is still trying to reach LTFRB for comment. — Dona Magsino/BM, GMA News