THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Davao announced the resumption of bus trips on Tuesday, May 26, but only within Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro, as well as within Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental, while travel to and from Davao Oriental is yet to be announced.
The City Government of Panabo announced this through a press release posted on its official Facebook page after a meeting with LTFRB-Davao Director Armand Dioso, along with Panabo City Mayor Jose Relampagos, and Davao del Norte Provincial Administrator Engr. Josie Jean Rabanos, who attended the meeting on behalf of Governor Edwin Jubahib.
Dioso, during the meeting, said bus operators will initially resume operations in Davao del Norte and Davao De Oro, with a limited number of units, while waiting for the approval from the Province of Davao Oriental.
The order also shows Panabo City as the point of origin of the Inter-Provincial routes for the three provinces.
LTFRB-Davao allowed the resumption of bus operations in the following special routes: Panabo to Mati City via Tagum City; Panabo to Cateel; Panabo to Boston; Panabo to Monkayo; Panabo to Maragusan; Panabo to Laak; Panabo to New Bataan; Panabo to Kapalong via Sto. Tomas; Sta. Cruz to Bansalan; Digos City to Malalag; and Sta. Cruz to Don Marcelino.
As of press time, no bus routes to and from Davao City were identified.
With the provincial executive orders 40 and 41, bus drivers and conductors from Davao City are required to undergo strict health screening once they enter the province. They are also advised to stay within the provinces during the quarantine period.
Dioso, meanwhile, in a radio interview via 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio said on Monday morning, May 25, that all buses should be equipped with thermal scanners and disinfectants.
He also said those with a body temperature of 38 degrees centigrade or higher are not allowed to board. Those ages 21 years old and below, and 60 years old and above are not allowed to travel.
LTFRB-Davao also said operation hours of buses will be between 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
He also said buses are only allowed to cater 50 percent of its seating capacity.
Also, only board passengers in terminals will be catered. Drop-off and pick up along the highway will is strictly not allowed.
Meanwhile, Dioso recently announced that provincial buses going within and outside the city did not push through following the pronouncement of some local government units that they are still not capable of accepting passengers from Davao City, which is the Covid-19 hotspot in the region.
"Dili pa sila ready mu-accept og pasahero from Davao City tungod mag mount pa sila sa ilang screening facility (They are still not ready to accept passengers from Davao City because they are still mounting their screening facilities)," Dioso said.