LTFRB-7 goes after “out-of-line” buses

CEBU, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 will start apprehending buses that travel “out-of-line” this Friday.  Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon yesterday said these buses travel outside their approved routes, which would earn the erring drivers a penalty of P1 million.

“Out-of-line buses are considered colorum. So dakpon gyud ni sila after October 17 even if they have a franchise,” said LTFRB-7 regional director Ahmed Cuizon yesterday.

As remedy for colorum buses to avoid apprehension, LTFRB issued Memorandum Circular Number 2014-010, or the “Implementing Guidelines on the Conduct of Rationa-lization of Routes of Provincial Public Utility Bus Service.”

Under the said guideline, the LTFRB would not issue new certificates of public convenience to operators; instead, they would be allowed to file petitions for possible amendments of existing routes.

Cuizon said yesterday that 155 bus units have so far been applied for in the rationalization program in the region, with Vallar Transit Inc., operator of the Ceres Liner, among those who did.  VTI has more than 2,000 buses nationwide, which makes it the biggest land transport not just in the Philippines but in Asia.

Cuizon, however, said Ceres’ application met strong opposition from the Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association and the Cebu South Mini-Bus Operators Association.

“Since their (Ceres) petition is contested, we already forwarded the documents to our head office. Sila na ang mo-decide sa petition sa Ceres,” Cuizon said.

Julieto Flores, CPBOA spokesperson, said that the so-called route modification is unfair for existing bus operators who have already established their own routes.

Flores, who is also the president of CSMBOA, said the circular favors only the big bus operators, to the detriment of the small-time bus operators. —/RHM (FREEMAN)