LTFRB to issue show cause order vs. prov'l bus operators over window hours scheme mess

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is set to issue show cause orders against provincial bus operators over the chaos blamed on the implementation of the window hours scheme.

Interviewed on GMA News’ Unang Balita on Thursday, LTFRB executive director Tina Cassion slammed the bus operators for allegedly pushing for their request to allow buses in private terminals in Metro Manila at the expense of passengers.

“In fact kahapon, nag-draft na ng show cause order yung legal natin. Today siguro yun mailalabas na yun sa kanila because they did not ply their routes yesterday and it affects thousands of stranded commuters,” she said.

(In fact yesterday, our legal team drafted a show cause order. Perhaps, it will be released to the bus operators today because they did not ply their routes yesterday and it affected thousands of stranded commuters.)

“Ang problema kasi sa kanila, ginawa nilang hostage yung mga kapakanan ng mga pasahero sa kagustuhan nila, very willful na gusto niya at any time doon sila sa private terminals nila,” she added.

(The problem with them is they took the commuters’ welfare hostage because of their very willful preference that their buses should be allowed in their private terminals any time of the day.)

On Wednesday, many passengers were stranded in different terminals as operators implemented a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. window hours for the departure and arrival of provincial buses without QR codes and special permits at private terminals in Metro Manila.

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

In a separate interview on Dobol B TV, MMDA chairperson Romando Artes expressed doubt that there was “confusion” among concerned operators, adding they just did not follow the agreement intentionally.

“Actually sa tingin ko wala namang kalituhan, parang sinadya po yung nangyari kahapon [I think there is no confusion, what happened yesterday seemed intentional],” Artes said.

According to him, the ban on the entry of provincial buses to Metro Manila was lifted on March 24 when the region shifted to a lower COVID-19 alert level.

However, Artes said the LTFRB and MMDA conducted inspections on bus terminals and none of them passed the government-set standards. Due to this, buses are still not allowed to use their private terminals.

He noted that provincial buses are still allowed to operate beyond the window hours as long as they terminate in the designated ITX. Provincial buses will be apprehended if they go to their private terminals, he added.

Artes advised passengers to go directly to the ITX and not to private terminals to avoid being stranded. The LTFRB is also offering free rides to stranded passengers to ferry them to the ITX.

Meanwhile, interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB, Alex Yague, executive director of Nagkakaisang Samahan ng Nangangasiwa ng Panlalawigang Bus sa Pilipinas Inc., denied that they do not want to operate.

“Actually kung tutuusin, gustong-gusto na naming bumiyahe. Dalawang taon na kaming hindi bumibiyahe. Gigil na gigil na kaming bumiyahe,” he said.

(Actually, we really want to operate. It has been two years since we stopped operations.)

According to him, some passengers were stranded because only a limited number of buses have QR codes and special permits required to operate.

Many drivers also got scared to ply their buses after some drivers were apprehended by the MMDA supposedly for violating the window hours, he added.

Yague said only few commuters go to ITX to book a trip as many prefer hiring colorum vehicles that, unlike the buses, can ferry them straight into Metro Manila.  —KBK, GMA News