MANILA — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on Monday announced that it would allow standing passengers inside some Public Utility Vehicles in areas under Alert Level 1 once more.
Based on the LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2022-070 forwarded to reporters Monday afternoon, only Public Utility Buses and Modern Public Utility Jeepneys Class 2 will be permitted to have standing passengers.
However, the board’s circular outlined that operations will be in accordance with the following conditions:
- Low-Entry/Low Floor public utility bus: a maximum of 15 standing passengers will be allowed, one-person apart
- Coach-type public utility bus: a maximum of 10 standing passengers will be allowed, one-person apart
- Modernized public utility jeepney Class 2: a maximum of five standing passengers will be allowed, one-person apart
In accordance with Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista’s directive, the LTFRB stated that the purpose of the regulation is “to maximize the capacity in the following public vehicles without violating public health and safety protocols.”
According to the memorandum circular, operators must maintain to strictly implement minimum public health safety protocols in order to avoid the spread of Covid-19.
Application for PUVs less than three years old
The LTFRB also stated it will allow PUV operators to apply for Certificates of Public Convenience (CPC) for vehicles not older than three years.
According to MC No. 2022-072, vehicles only have until June 30 to apply.
Board Resolution no. 52 s. 2018 of the LTFRB states that only new vehicles sold or issued in the year the CPC is applied or purchased in the previous year before the CPC is applied are eligible.
However, in response to the request of PUV operators affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, vehicles no more than three years old can now be applied, according to Memorandum Circular No. 2022-072.
Drivers and operators of PUVs were reminded by the LTFRB that anyone caught violating its regulations will be subject to appropriate sanctions in accordance with the terms of their Certificate of Public Convenience and Joint Administrative Order 2014-01.
