LTFRB sets GCQ guidelines for buses

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) released yesterday guidelines for the operation of public utility buses (PUBs) once Metro Manila shifts to a more lenient general community quarantine (GCQ).

The transport regulator’s guidelines are contained in Memorandum Circular 2020-18, issued May 14, to prepare bus operators in the event Metro Manila is reclassified from modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) to GCQ.

Among the provisions in the directive is that buses will be operating only at a 50 percent capacity so that passengers are seated one seat apart to ensure physical distancing is strictly observed.

Commuters, conductors and drivers are also  required to wear face masks.

Conductors must also be equipped with thermal scanners to check the temperature of passengers. Those with a body temperate of 38 degrees centigrade will not be allowed to board the bus.

A foot disinfectant must also be provided and buses should be disinfected at the end of trip or every three hours if the vehicle is in continuous operation.

To facilitate contact tracing, drivers shall provide commuters with a form wherein passengers must state their name and contact number.

The LTFRB will issue special permits for 4,600 slots for PUBs to be authorized to ply 31 rationalized routes in Metro Manila.

Of the number, 550 slots were allotted for units that would travel along EDSA to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange.