LTFRB conditions for free Makati bus ride 'unreasonable'

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City government on Wednesday appealed to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to reconsider its order requiring passengers of the city’s free shuttle service to buy a single journey Metro Rail Transit ticket and present an ID issued by a Makati-based company, which it finds unreasonable and an added burden to MRT riders.

It would be recalled that last May 21, the city government received the LTFRB’s order dated May 16, 2014 granting a special permit for the city’s free shuttle service, but subjecting it to compliance with the said conditions.

In a four-page Motion for Partial Reconsideration, Pio Kenneth Dasal, city legal officer, stated that imposing the said conditions “is an invalid exercise of LTFRB’s power” and that these are "contrary to public interest and welfare."

Dasal pointed out that besides defeating the purpose of a “free” transport service for Makati commuters, it would greatly prejudice and inconvenience them to line up and purchase a single journey ticket on the same date.

“The fact that they will not use the MRT ticket to ride the MRT trains makes such condition oppressive, as well,” he said.

“How could this requirement benefit the Makati commuters and also solve the long queues in MRT?” he added.

The city government has also asked the LTFRB to do away with the condition requiring commuters to present a company ID as proof of employment in Makati.

The city counsel argued that the free transport service, offering point-to-point, non-stop trips from MRT North Avenue station to Ayala Avenue in Makati, is for the benefit of all commuters going to Makati, not just employees working in the city.

“The LTFRB was established for the purpose of ensuring that the commuting public has adequate, safe, convenient, environment-friendly and dependable public land transportation services. Therefore, its requirements must have a reasonable relation to its purpose,” Dasal further stated.

The free transportation service, which started on Mar. 27, 2014, has been conceptualized to help alleviate the burden of Makati-bound commuters caused by the long queues in MRT stations, the frequent breakdown of MRT trains and the worsening traffic conditions resulting from simultaneous road rehabilitation works along EDSA and other major roads in Metro Manila.

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay has also committed to purchase four more new buses to augment the six city-owned vehicles being used for the free transport program, which has been well-received by the riding public.

“Our present fleet of vehicles could only accommodate up to 250 passengers per trip, and the overwhelming response of the public to our program in its initial run has prompted our decision to add more buses, so that more citizens would benefit,” Binay said.

Binay said although the intended beneficiaries are not Makati residents, the city government is looking out for their welfare as well because they also contribute to the city’s economic growth.

Last April 2, the LTFRB in a letter required the city government to submit the government identification card of the city’s authorized representative, the OR/CR of the buses used, Passenger Accident Liability Insurance, and Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolution regarding the free transport service. The city government had submitted the said requirements to LTFRB for the granting of a special permit for its free shuttle service.

The six-vehicle convoy has been regularly providing free transportation to Makati-bound commuters from Monday to Friday, making two trips daily from 6am to about 9am from its pick-up point along North Avenue-EDSA to Ayala Avenue.