LTFRB finalizing review of applications for special bus permits for holidays

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is now finalizing the review of 1,413 applications for special permits for passenger buses amid the expected influx of travelers for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

In a statement on Tuesday, LTFRB chairman Vigor Mendoza II said the review will ensure that only units that would pass road worthiness inspections will be given the special permits.

“Hindi bale na sumobra ang mga pampasaherong bus na mabigyan ng special permit kesa naman kulang dahil kawawa po ang ating mga kababayan na nai-stranded sa mga bus terminals dahil walang bus,” said Mendoza.

(Never mind if there are more passenger buses that are issued special permits, instead of having few buses. We pity our countrymen who end up stranded in bus terminals because there are no buses.)

Mendoza said they expect Filipinos to travel to the provinces for the holidays when students go on vacation for the Yuletide holidays.

“Yung iba naman ay siguradong pupunta sa Maynila at ibang mga siyudad para magbakasyon din naman kaya dapat nating paghandaan lahat ito,” he added.

(Others will surely go to Manila and other cities to go on vacation, so we must be ready for that too.)

Mendoza assured that their intention to provide more passenger buses by issuing special permits will not compromise passengers’ safety and comfort.

The application period for special bus permits was from November 10 to 21 covering 1,413 units for 116 routes across the country.

The special bus permits cover the period of December 15, 2025 to January 16, 2026.

The LTFRB said it received a higher number of applications this year, compared to 1,003 applications in 2024 and 1,174 in 2023.

Mendoza said this reflected the expected increase in the number of passengers.

“We will be in constant coordination with all concerned government agencies in terms of safety and security,” he said, adding that their monitoring of buses with special permits will not be limited to bus terminals, but will cover roads in cooperation with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and local government units (LGUs). — JMA, GMA Integrated News