LTFRB sets hearing on May 10 for provincial buses not plying routes outside window hours

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has set a hearing on May 10 for some provincial bus operators to explain the non-operation of their buses outside window hours, LTFRB Executive Director Maria Kristina Cassion said Saturday.

Cassion said six bus companies were found to not have deployed their buses outside window hours.

"So far, anim na kompanya ng bus ang nakita nating hindi pumasada noong Wednesday sa Pampanga," Cassion said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(So far, six bus companies were found not to have operated on Wednesday in Pampanga.)

The six bus companies who were given show cause orders are Victory Liner, Bataan Transit, Five Star Bus Company, First North Luzon Transit, Maria de Leon and Genesis. 

"Pagkatapos ng show cause order, hihintayin ang kanilang sagot at tiyak magkakaroon ng pagdinig sa May 10, 2022," Cassion said.

(After the issuance of the show cause order, LTFRB will wait for their replies, and for sure there will be a hearing on May 10, 2022.)

Genesis said it will submit an explanation to the LTFRB.

Many passengers were stranded in different terminals earlier this week as operators implemented the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. window hours policy for the departure and arrival of provincial buses without QR codes and special permits at private terminals in Metro Manila. Some bus companies did not have trips outside those window hours.

The LTFRB, however, clarified that the agreement between the operators and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) states that beyond the window period, provincial buses may use selected integrated terminal exchange areas. 

Cassion, however, on Saturday said the provincial bus companies servicing north routes refuse to use the integrated terminal exchanges.

"Wala tayong problema sa south area dahil mayroong PITX... Ang north lang talaga ang ayaw sumunod sa ITX na sistema," she said.

(We don't have a problem in the south area because there is the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange or PITX. Those servicing the north however do not want to follow the ITX system.)

"Ginagawa nilang hostage ang mga pasahero para sa demand nila na gusto nila na at any given time, doon sila sa kanilang private terminals. Hindi ito pwede kasi may mga regulasyon tayo na kailangang sundin," Cassion added.

(They are making passengers hostages for their demand to be allowed to go to their private terminals at any given time. This is not possible because there is a regulation we have to follow.)

"Puwede naman sila pumasok ng Metro Manila pero ang endpoint ay Araneta Center Integrated Terminal," she said.

(They are allowed to enter Metro Manila but their endpoint is Araneta Center Integrated Terminal.)

Cassion explained that the use of integrated terminal exchanges is part of the government's transport policy.

Under the policy, provincial buses may load and unload passengers at integrated terminal exchanges, then city buses may bring passengers to and from Metro Manila.

With the window hours, provincial buses are allowed to enter Metro Manila from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. to proceed to their private terminals inside the National Capital Region.

"Buong araw naman silang mamasada kahit may window hour... Ang sinasabi lang nito, puwede sila sa kanilang private terminal sa 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. dahil ito ang mga oras na hindi sila magdudulot ng problema sa EDSA," Cassion said.

(They should operate the whole day even with the window hour [policy in place]. The policy only states they can only go to their private terminals from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. because these are the hours that they will not contribute to the traffic problem on EDSA.)

“Bagamat may mandato ang mga naturang operator na bumiyahe, hindi nila ito sinunod kung kaya't libo-libong pasahero ang na-stranded sa Pampanga, at ibinaling ang sisi sa LTFRB at MMDA,” the LTFRB said in a separate statement.

(Although operators had the mandate to ply their routes, they did not comply so thousands of passengers were stranded in Pampanga, and the blame was shifted to the LTFRB and MMDA.)

“Sumakay rin ang mga pasahero sa panlilinlang ng mga operator at ibinuhos ang kanilang inis sa dalawang ahensya ng gobyerno, na sa katunayan ay kasalanan ng mga provincial commuter bus operators na tumangging mag-operate kahit walang probisyon na nagbabawal sa kanilang pumasada,” the agency said.

(Passengers also poured their anger on the two government agencies, which was in fact the fault of the provincial commuter bus operators who refused to operate even though there was no provision prohibiting them from plying their routes.)

“Malinaw na kailanman ay hindi kukunsintihin ng ahensya ang mga gawaing tulad nito, bagkus ay patuloy na pangangalagaan at po-protektahan ang kapakanan ng mga mananakay,” it furthered.

(It is clear that the agency will never tolerate these kinds of actions, but will continue to safeguard and protect the welfare of the commuters.) —Richa Noriega/KG/DVM, GMA News