LTFRB suspends ‘no loading/unloading’ policy for UV Express in Makati

The Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has suspended the “no loading/unloading” policy for UV Express vehicles in Makati City until November, Mayor Abby Binay announced Tuesday.

Binay said this means UV Express vehicles will be allowed to drop off and pick up passengers at the designated areas in Makati Central Business District (CBD) while authorities are studying the implementation of LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2019-025 during the three-month period.

Under the policy, UV Express service vehicles are mandated to operate on a point-to-point basis and are prohibited from loading and unloading passengers in between their point of origin and destination.

“It will give us ample time to study the situation on the ground and coordinate with LTFRB and other concerned parties regarding possible assistance and suggestions for implementing the memorandum,” Binay said in a statement.

Makati City officials called for a meeting with the LTFRB and representatives from the Makati Parking Authority (MAPA), Makati Central Estate Association (MACEA), and Ayala Property Management Corporation (APMC)  after receiving complaints on the difficulties of commuting in the city due to the transportation scheme.

The LTFRB, during the meeting, agreed on temporarily lifting the policy to make way for a thorough evaluation of its implementation.

MACEA and APMC, meanwhile, said they will collaborate with the agency and the local government on identifying official public transportation terminals at the Ayala Center to ease the traffic congestion in the financial district.

“In the meantime, we urge UV Express drivers plying the roads of Makati to inform their passengers of the temporary suspension of the policy. We expect them to strictly follow traffic rules and regulations and observe proper loading and unloading areas to avoid impeding traffic flow in the CBD,” Binay said. — Sundy Locus/BM, GMA News