LTFRB backtracks, says standing passengers still not allowed

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has backtracked on its earlier announcement that standing passengers will be allowed inside buses and modern jeepneys.

“Yes, there was an initial recommendation just so we can be able to address the 70% capacity na payagan ang standing [to allow standing passengers],” LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra III said at a virtual press conference on Wednesday.

The government’s pandemic task force, last week, greenlit the increase in operational capacity from the current 50% to 70% for public road-based and rail transportation plying the National Capital Region (NCR) and the provinces of Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, and Laguna.

The pilot run will begin on November 4 and will be for a duration of 30 days. 

Under the new scheme, standing passengers were initially allowed on public utility buses and modern jeepneys, with the one-seat-apart policy remaining.

Delgra said that the LTFRB met with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (I-ACT), and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to discuss how to implement this.

“Pero nakita natin magdudulot ng kalituhan kung merong nakatayo sa loob na makikita natin sa mga pampublikong sasakyan,” he added.

(But, we found out that having standing passengers inside public road-transport vehicles will cause confusion.)

The LTFRB chief said the agency allowed the reconfiguration of seating arrangements inside public road-transport vehicles to accommodate the 70% operating capacity without allowing standing passengers.

Nonetheless, commuters are still required to observe health protocols such as wearing face masks and face shields. — BM, GMA News