LTFRB: SM MyBus doesn’t need franchise

CEBU, Philippines – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 said that SM’s MyBus can operate even without a franchise.

“Yes they can operate without a franchise provided they will not collect any fare from passengers,” said LTFRB-7 Regional Director Rey Elnar yesterday.

Elnar said that he heard that MyBus will have a dry run for one week either before or after the opening of SM Seaside City at the South Road Properties in Cebu City. SM Seaside City is expected to open on November 27.

Elnar also learned that an additional 16 buses for MyBus will arrive anytime this month aside from the existing three units.

He said provided all these buses are registered with LTO, it can ferry passengers without collecting any fare.

To recall, the Metro Rapid Transit System Inc. strongly believes that their application for the issuance of franchise for their 77 buses will be approved by the Department of Transportation and Communications, this despite opposition from Cebu’s various transport groups.

MRTSI is a joint venture of SM Holdings Inc. and Jam Transport.

Those who opposed were the Cebu Integrated Transport Service Multi-Purpose Cooperative, the Visayan United Transport Service Multi-Purpose Cooperative, the Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association, the Cebu South Mini Bus Operators Association and the National Confederation of Transport Union-Visayas.

They want LTFRB to deny the applicant’s application for franchise issuance for want of any palpable merit.

In their opposition, they said the application is infirm and would adversely affect the entire transport industry.

Elnar further said that he forwarded the other day, the MRTSI’s proposed fare rates for the various routes applied for.

Elnar said that out of the 77 buses, 36 will ply from the North Bus Terminal in Mandaue City to SM Seaside via Mambaling and vice-versa with an applied fare of P25.

Twenty-two buses will ply from Talisay City to the North Bus Terminal and vice-versa for a fare of P40.

Eleven buses will ply from Talisay City to SM Seaside City for a fare of P25 while eight buses will ply from Ta-lisay to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City and vice versa for a fare of P75.

These buses, with a capacity of 60 to 70 passengers, cost P8 million to P12 million each and are considered Bus Rapid Transit-ready. — /BRP (FREEMAN)