LTFRB exempts buses from ending routes at PITX

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has exempted public utility buses in certain parts of Cavite coming to Metro Manila from ending their routes at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).

In Memorandum Circular No. 2018-022 dated Nov. 21, published in The STAR yesterday, commuter buses from Imus, Bacoor, Dasmariñas, General Trias and Cavite cities, and the towns of Silang, Kawit and Noveleta  can still proceed to their original end routes in Metro Manila.

These include routes ending in Lawton in Manila, Baclaran in Parañaque and terminals in Pasay.

The memorandum shall take effect immediately following its publication in a newspaper of general circulation and the filing of three copies with the University of the Philippines Law Center.

The LTFRB said the memorandum is in compliance with Department Order 25 of  the Department of Transportation (DOTr) converting the certificates of public convenience (CPCs) of provincial buses to city operations.

The memorandum provides that the buses can pass through the PITX to drop and pick up passengers.

All other provincial routes beyond the identified areas, including those originating from Batangas and long-haul Cavite routes, are required to end their trip at the PITX.

Sought for comment, LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra III said the purpose is to shorten the travel time of passengers traveling to and from Metro Manila.

“In Metro Manila, we understand commuters’ daily movement in volumes as beyond its political jurisdiction or what we call greater Manila area,” he said in a text message.

He said the establishment of an integrated terminal exchange where buses and other provincial utility vehicles are kept from city routes would ease traffic congestion, especially along EDSA.

Delgra and board member Ronaldo Corpus signed the order while board member Aileen Lourdes Lizada dissented.

In her dissenting opinion, Lizada said the memorandum would cause undue injury to several bus operators who will lose income because of the shortening of their routes, which Lizada said violates provisions of Republic Act 3019 or the anti-graft law.

“I strongly recommend that the board inform the DOTr Secretary about this volation as he might not be aware,” Lizada said, referring to Arthur Tugade.

Delgra retorted: “It is the DOTr and LTFRB’s positionthat we are not biased against a particular group but rather as Secretary Tugade puts it, we are biased for the commuting public.”