Provincial point-to-point buses get nod from IATF

MANILA, Philippines — The Duterte administration has allowed provincial buses in point-to-point routes to resume operations as the government continues to reopen the economy while enforcing COVID-19 containment measures.

The return of provincial buses in point-to-point routes approved by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the local government units (LGUs) of destination was approved through the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolution 88 issued last Monday.

The approval also covers the routes’ stopover and transit terminals.

“Point-to-point provincial buses shall be allowed unhampered passage through the different LGUs en route to the LGU of destination,” the resolution read.

The Department of Transportation and the LTFRB have been directed to formulate necessary operational guidelines for the return of the provincial buses in point-to-point routes.

The government had imposed restrictions on mass transportation to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which has so far infected more than 450,000 people in the Philippines.

The government, however, has been relaxing COVID-19-related measures to allow more businesses to operate and to enable more people to return to work.