LTFRB to open more provincial, Metro transport routes next week

THE Department of Transportation (DOTR) will open more transport routes and deploy additional public-utility vehicle (PUV) units to accommodate the demand for transportation amid the prevailing curbs.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Officer in Charge Zona R. Tamayo said the group would start opening the new routes by next week.

“We continue to open more routes and starting next week, we are looking at opening an additional 4,400 units for traditional public-utility jeepneys [PUJ] and for provincial buses coming into Metro Manila,” she said.

The regulator is opening a total of 250 routes for both jeepneys and provincial buses. Broken down, 60 more routes will be opened for 1,800 traditional jeepneys and 190 routes from 2,600 provincial buses.

“In opening routes, we are always reminding operators to observe health protocols for their operations. So starting next week, please expect an increase in the routes particularly in Metro Manila. For other areas, our regional offices are in constant dialogue with local government units for the resumption of operations,” Tamayo said.

She stressed that for provincial buses, local government units have the last call if they will allow the resumption of operations of the said transport mode.

Currently, there are 53,441 units of PUVS allowed to operate in 745 routes. This, including the operations of taxis, ride-hailing services, shuttle buses, and trucks for hire, amount to 76 percent of the pre-covid transport operations in Metro Manila.

Earlier, various government officials and commuter groups called on the government to open more routes and add capacity to the current transport structure to accommodate the demand, which has led to the patronization of illegal transport means—colloquially termed “colorum.”