Bus firms told: Explain window hours mess

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has served show-cause orders (SCOs) to at least five provincial bus companies that allegedly failed to deploy buses outside the window hours set by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

LTFRB executive director Kristina Cassion said the agency issued the SCOs yesterday to Victory Liner, Bataan Transit, Five Star Bus Co., Maria de Leon Trans and the First North Luzon Transit Inc. to explain why they suspended their operations amid the implementation of the window hour scheme.

Genesis Transport, another recipient, would be issued its SCO at another time as its office was apparently closed yesterday.

The LTFRB earlier clarified that during the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. window, provincial buses may use their private terminals. Outside those hours, they can use designated integrated terminals such as the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, North Luzon Express Terminal and the Sta. Rosa Integrated Terminal.

This means if passengers need to go to provinces outside the window hours, they may take city buses that go to these terminals.

Reports said even if the LTFRB allows provincial buses to operate outside the window hours in the integrated terminals, provincial buses still suspended their operations.

Commuters in Metro Manila and several provinces were reportedly denied bus tickets when they attempted to buy outside the window hours. They decried the policy for the lack of warning and its burden on commuters forced to wait for hours at terminals just to get on a 10 p.m. trip.

Cassion said there was no reason for provincial bus operators to stop their trips outside the window hours.

“What happened was our passengers were held hostage with the demands of provincial bus operators from the north who are forcing their own interpretation with the agreement with MMDA (on the window hour scheme),” Cassion said in an interview aired over Teleradyo.

The MMDA earlier set window hours for provincial buses from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. as a stop-gap solution to daytime traffic in major thoroughfares like EDSA, which is under the agency’s jurisdiction.

Cassion said they issued the SCOs due to the “defiance” of bus operators.

“They are very defiant. They just want to operate at any time of the day in their private terminals. They don’t want to be controlled or regulated. That’s just the bottom line, that’s why they are inventing reasons to operate during night-time only,” she added.