Group reiterates push for selected stops instead of P2P for UV Express

Following Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board's move to suspended its point-to-point (P2P) policy for UV Express vehicles, a commuters group reiterated its suggestion to adopt "selected stops" scheme as the alternative.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Saturday, Atty. Ariel Inton for the Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection said, "Nakita ko po na may kalituhan doon sa 2km-radius policy kasi wala namang panukat ang mga nanghuhuli. Dapat pag-aralan sa kung saang mga lugar mas madalas may bumababa."

Inton asked transportation authorities to adopt the suggested "selected stops" scheme.

Atty. Inton: Ang suggestion po namin magkaroon po ng selected stops base po sa mga nais ng pasahero. https://t.co/Jl7zdrja0g

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) June 1, 2019

"Ang suggestion po namin ay base po sa mga nais ng pasahero. That is a good compromise," he added.

Also, he pointed out that passengers' need for easy and convenient access prods drivers to violate the P2P policy.

LTFRB's intention in suspending the P2P policy for UV Express vehicles was to give more time for consultations with stakeholders, according to Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddess Hope Libiran.

“Per LTFRB, they suspended it for two weeks per the recommendation of Congress to give way to a more thorough stakeholder consultation,” Libiran said.

Earlier, LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra III noted that the P2P policy was not new. It was first implemented in 2005.

In 2009, LTFRB amended the memorandum circular requiring UV Express vehicles to drop off and pick up passengers within the two-kilometer radius outside terminals.

But since the drivers did not follow the policy, LTFRB amended the circular and ordered UV Express units to load and unload passengers only at the terminals.

This meant the vehicles were not allowed to drop off and pick up passengers in other areas. The amended P2P policy for UV Express took effect last May 16 but it was met with strong opposition.

The Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection suggested that drop-off and pick-up stops for UV Express be established instead of the adopting the point-to-point system. —LBG, GMA News