LTFRB urges employers to get shuttle services for employees to lessen COVID risk

As more workers continue to return to their workplaces with the revival of the economy, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) encouraged private companies anew to get shuttle services for their employees.

In a virtual Laging Handa briefing on Thursday, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III said renting a dedicated shuttle service for workers would be beneficial for the entire company to help curb the transmission of the coronavirus.

“Dedicated ang service, ibig sabihin yung mga empleyado ay kukuhanin sa kanilang mga bahay at dadalhin sa workplace. Dahil dito ay makakasiguro na yung risk of transmission of the virus would be limited (The service is dedicated which means employees will be fetched from their homes then transported to workplaces. With this, the company can assure that the risk of transmission of the virus would be limited),” Delgra said.

Aside from being a safety measure, Delgra said renting shuttle services would also be an added benefit for the employees to avoid public transport woes.

According to Delgra, the agency had already eased the processes needed for the deployment and operation of shuttle services in line with the earlier directive of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to add more transport services for employees and workers.

“We continue to encourage private companies to use shuttle service for their employees especially now that the process is easier,” he added.

It may be recalled that the LTFRB issued Memorandum Circular No. 2020-039 dated August 17 which exempts shuttle services for transport workers during the General Community Quarantine from securing Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) under specific conditions:

1. Vehicles must be secured by a Contract of Lease for a period of at least three months but not exceeding December 31, 2020, and said contract must at all times be readily available for presentation during on-road operations or as the Board deems necessary;

2. Vehicles must be used and driven by the lessee or his/her authorized representatives;

3. Vehicles must be currently registered and covered by a comprehensive passenger insurance policy; and

4. Vehicles subject of the lease contract shall bear the proper marking of, the company that it is servicing for identification.