LTFRB issues 500 special bus permits

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued no less than 500 special permits to public utility buses (PUBs) to address the expected influx of passengers this holiday break, an official said yesterday.

Data from the LTFRB showed that the agency approved 251 applications for 521 buses as of Wednesday.

Special permits issued this Christmas season are valid for a longer period, from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3, 2017, according to LTFRB chairman Martin Delgra.

The special permit allows operators to send buses outside their specified routes.

Delgra said this gives bus operators the flexibility to address high demand in certain routes.

The LTFRB has retained the 25 percent cap for the maximum number of buses per franchise that could be covered by the special permit.

A total of 477 applications covering 1,197 buses were filed before the LTFRB, which disapproved five applications for 89 buses.

Operators filed the most number of applications – 280 for 701 buses – for Northern Luzon routes. The LTFRB denied one application, which covered 70 buses.

This was followed by Southern Luzon with 91 applications covering 285 buses, Bicol with 77 applications and 130 buses, and Visayas with 27 applications and 78 buses.

There were only two applications with three buses that registered for a special permit in Mindanao.

BOY SANTOS People wishing to celebrate the holidays in their hometowns sit on their luggage as they wait at the Araneta Center bus terminal in Cubao, Quezon City yesterday to ride buses bound for the provinces.