LTFRB-7 gets copy of permit for MyBus

CEBU, Philippines – The Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board-7 has received the original copy of the order that grants special permit to Metro Rapid Transit System Inc, the operator of MyBus.

LTFRB-7 director Rey Elnar yesterday said that the special permit granted to seven units of MyBus has been approved by the LTFRB board last November 12 and December 22.

Five out of the seven units have a franchise Biñan, Laguna to Lawton issued last November 12, said Elnar, while the other two units have a franchise Batangas-Liwasan, Bonifacio granted last December 22.

With the granting of the special permit, these seven bus units can now travel from Talisay City to Mactan Cebu International Airport in Lapu-Lapu City and vice versa.

The permit will expire on March 31.

Elnar explained that the LTFRB board can issue such special permit since its jurisdiction is nationwide.

Earlier, Citrasco general manager Ryan Benjamin Yu questioned the propriety in the issuance of such permit.

MRTSI, a joint venture of SM Holdings Inc. and Jam Transit, has a pending franchise application before the LTFRB-7 for its hybrid 77 buses. So far, only nine units have franchise.

Transport groups have opposed the entry of these high premium buses, saying they will only worsen the traffic condition in Cebu, among others. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/NSA (FREEMAN)