THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Davao Region (LTFRB-Davao) has opened new routes to 90 public utility vans (PUV) in Davao City.
In a Memorandum Circular 2020-017 released on Monday, July 20, LTFRB-Davao bared they are starting to accept applications of UV operators who wished to ply the point-to-point routes of Toril to Lasang, SM City Ecoland to Lasang and Gaisano Mall, J.P. Laurel Avenue to Toril.
Only 30 UV units will be given special permits to operate in each route on a first-come, first-serve basis.
It said those UV Express operators who have existing Certificates of Public Convenience (CPCs) in the opened routes shall be preferred.
“Mag apply pa ang mga operators ani kung asa ang ilang pilion nga ruta. Makasugod na ni sila og operate right after makakuha na sila og special permit and they are authorized (The operators will have to apply for their desired routes and they can immediately operate once they get their special permits),” LTFRB-Davao Regional Director Armand Dioso said.
He said Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio recently approved their proposal to open these routes. However, this is aside the special permits granted by LTFRB-Davao for region-wide routes.
Dioso said about 200 to 250 units have been operating since June 25.
Existing northbound routes include Tagum to Pantukan, Pantukan to Mati, Pantukan to Governor Generoso, Tagum to Nabunturan, Nabunturan to Maragusan and Tagum to Monkayo.
Meanwhile, southbound routes for PUVs are Sta. Cruz to Bansalan and Digos to Bansalan in Davao del Sur.
Dioso said they are also allowing around five units to operate from Digos to Sulop and vice versa.
However, the MC also stressed those UV Express with existing issued special permits will not be allowed to change and are disqualified from applying from these new routes in Davao City
Dioso also reminded UV Express operators to strictly follow the health protocols as several utility vans were caught violating it.
He said UVs must install barriers between drivers and the passengers and must board on 50 percent of its capacity or only two persons are allowed in each passenger seat.
“Naay mga nadakpan, mga usa or duha tungod naay sobra nga sakay. Instead of eight, nine ang gisakay so bawal. Ang uban nag operate nga walay special permit (We have apprehended one or two who allowed passengers more than what is required. Others were operating without special permits),” he said.