Franchise permit for 4 more MyBus to be approved

CEBU, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board-7 is set to approve within the week a new franchise permit for four additional units of SM’s MyBus.

LTFRB-7 director Rey Elnar said their inspectors checked yesterday the four units of SM My Bus.

“Gi-endorse na sa mga inspectors ang ilang findings to our legal department. Maybe within the week, ma-grant na ang franchise of these four buses,” Elnar said.

Earlier, one franchise (with three bus units) of Metro Rapid Transit System Inc., that operates SM’s MyBus, was approved by Elnar.

The three units travel from Talisay City to Cebu City (SM Seaside City via SRP Mambaling, Natalio Bacalso Avenue and vice versa).

But Elnar said that for the four bus units, he still has to check which franchise they belong to, as well as their routes.

MRTSI has applied for the issuance of four franchises for its 77 buses.

Ryan Benjamin Yu, chairman and general manager of Cebu Integrated Transport Service Multi-Purpose Cooperative, said they have already submitted their motion for reconsideration opposing LTFRB’s granting of MRTSI’s franchise application.

“Our main contention is that the developmental routes that they are applying for is not developmental routes at all,” said Yu.

Yu added that Elnar approved the franchise for the three bus units even if MRTSI has not complied yet with some of the requirements, such as bus stop areas, electronic collection booths, wifi, GPS among others.

Aside from CITRASCO, other groups that oppose providing franchise permits to SM’s MyBus include the Visayas United Drivers Transport and Allied Services Cooperative, Metro Cebu Taxi Operators Association, Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association, Cebu South Mini Bus Operators Association and the National Confederation of Transportworkers Union-Central Visayas.

In their opposition paper, they stated that they opposed the application not only due to its infirmities but also to the adverse effects it will bring to the transport industry.

“The entry of additional bus units of the applicant will definitely contribute largely to the worsening traffic situation of Metro Cebu,” the opposition reads.  Aside from these, the groups further stated that the additional entry of buses will bring adverse effects to the great number of present holders of Certificates of Public Convenience.

Elnar said that what involved in the application are high quality premium buses under the High Quality Public Transport System, a first of its category to service a route in the Metro Cebu area.

He added that they approved the franchise of MyBus pending compliance with other requirements.  (FREEMAN)