Undas preparation: LTO-7, LTFRB-7 to inspect bus terminals

CEBU, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 and the Land Transportation Office-7 will jointly conduct inspection at bus terminals in Cebu next week in preparation for the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

Dubbed the Oplan Kaluluwa 2015, both agencies will ensure that buses that will ferry passengers to their towns or provinces are road-worthy and the drivers are drug-free in order to avoid any incidents.

 LTFRB-7 director Rey Elnar said passengers’ assistance desks will be put up in strategic areas at the bus terminals.

 This is also to ensure, Elnar said, that bus drivers and conductors are not overcharging fare.

With this occasion, thousands of passengers are expected to flock the terminals.

According to Elnar, they have not apprehended any colorum bus since the implementation of the Joint Administrative Order 2014-01.

“Wala na g’yud mi nakadakop og mga colorum buses. Posible nahadlok g’yud sa penalty,” he said.

 Under JAO 2014-01, owners of colorum buses will face a penalty of P1 million and possible impoundment of the unit.

Elnar further said they are still waiting for the complete guidelines of the Oplan Kaluluwa 2015 from the Department of Transportation and Communications.

Julieto Flores, spokesperson of the Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association, said Cebu has enough buses and mini-buses to cater to all the passengers during the two succeeding occasions.

“We have enough buses and mini-buses. Pero hangyo lang sad mi sa mga pasahero nga di sila magdungan og uli inig Sabado ug Domingo kay magdasok g’yud. Mas maayo ang uban mouli na sa Huwebes ug Biyernes pa lang,” said Flores, who is also president of the Cebu South Mini Bus Operators Association.

There are 450 buses and around 150 mini-buses operating in Cebu.

 Marie Nillama, spokesperson of the Department of Public Works and Highways-7, said that during the two-day event, they will implement the “Lakbay Alalay” program to assist motorists, especially those going to cemeteries.

 Nillama said there are some infrastructure projects that are situated near cemeteries that may cause traffic.

 “As of now, we do not have any instructions yet from our head office to temporarily stop the ongoing infrastructure projects for these two events,” he said.  (FREEMAN)