Bus drivers face raps for trip-cutting

MANILA, Philippines - Drivers of buses who take a U-turn at the Mabuhay Rotunda due to a bus ban in Manila are actually violating their franchise, a lawmaker and former executive of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said yesterday.

“The buses cannot just go back to Quezon City by taking that U-turn at Welcome Rotunda,” Negros Oriental Rep. Manuel Iway told The STAR in an interview. “They (buses) are effectively cutting their trip, which is a violation of their franchise.”

According to Iway, public utility vehicles must strictly follow their routes as stated in their franchises.

“If the franchise states that the route ends in Lawton, a bus cannot just cut short its trip and go back once it reaches Mabuhay Rotunda,” Iway said.

The resolution issued by the Manila city government, which bans buses without existing terminals from going through Manila’s roads, has drawn flak from bus operators because of the ban.

Even LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez has criticized the policy, stating the local government had gone beyond its regulatory police powers.

According to Ginez, the city government could have just imposed regulatory limitations on buses, not a complete ban.

Ginez, however, said the LTFRB cannot prevent the city government from imposing the police. Instead, he said the bus operators could question the resolution in court.

This was echoed by Iway, who said a court ruling could resolve the conflict.

Government officials have proposed a transportation summit to resolve the conflict. Ginez has said the LTFRB is willing to facilitate the dialogue between the city government of Manila and bus operators.