LTFRB opens 15 P2P bus routes

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has opened 15 point-to-point bus routes while it continues to limit other public utility vehicles in Metro Manila. 

LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra said two to three more bus routes will be opened by tomorrow.

“Tuloy-tuloy ang pagbukas ng bus routes kasi (Opening of bus routes continues because) we’re meeting a target earlier than the start of phase two, which means all 31 other rationalized city bus routes will be opened by June 19,” Delgra said.

The destinations of the newly opened routes are: Imus, Bacoor, Dasmariñas and Noveleta in Cavite; Sta. Rosa and Calamba in Laguna; Cainta and Antipolo in Rizal; Malolos, Balagtas, Pandi, Sta. Maria and Plaridel in Bulacan; Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay and Sangley Airport in Cavite.

Delgra said the LTFRB will still prohibit UV Express vehicles as they still do not comply with the social distancing measures of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF). 

He added that they are also studying if provincial buses should be allowed to enter the greater Metro Manila area or be limited to the integrated terminals such as the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITEX) and the Sta. Rosa Laguna and Valenzuela City terminals.  

Delgra also said they can only allow jeepneys and other public vehicles to resume operations once the LTFRB has completed the second phase of its program for gradual restoration of public transportation.