THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has warned provincial bus operators violating their special permit guidelines and Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) will be held liable by the agency.
This was gleaned in the agency's official statement on Facebook account posted on Wednesday.
LTFRB issued the statement after some bus operators announced a window hour scheme they forged with the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
Under the scheme, buses coming from the province are only allowed to arrive and leave their terminals in Metro Manila from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
The board clarified that it was not involved in the memorandum of agreement forged between MMDA and the bus operators.
"Sa umpisa pa lang, nais linawin ng LTFRB na hindi kasama ang ahensiya sa nabanggit na kasunduan habang ito ay pinag-uusapan, ngunit ipinaalam naman ito noong nagkaroon ang MMDA ng dalawang linggong dry run ng nasabing window hour scheme at nirerespeto ng aming ahensiya ang naturang polisiya," the LTFRB stated.
The agency also clarified that the window hour scheme does not mean that transportation of passengers and other public transport services by provincial bus operator will be limited during the said period.
"Tulad ng ipinaliwanag ng MMDA sa pagpupulong ng mga opisyal mula sa dalawang ahensya, ang kanilang naging kasunduan sa mga provincial bus operator ay maaaring gamitin ang kanilang pribadong terminal mula 10 pm hanggang 5 am," the LTFRB said.
“Samantala, kapag ito ay lampas sa nasabing window hours ay kinakailangang magtungo sa mga ITX kung saan may mga city buses na maghahatid sa mga pasahero,” the agency added.
The LTFRB reminded the provincial bus operators that their permit to operate were issued to them to transport passengers any time of the day if necessary.
The agency cited the situation in Dau Bus Terminal in Mabalacat City were thousands of passengers were stranded because of limited trips to Metro Manila.
"Ikinalulungkot ng LTFRB and sitwasyon ngayong sa Pampanga, base sa nakarating ng ulat mula LTFRB Regin III, kung saan maraming stranded na pasahero sa Dau Terminal na naghihintay sa mga provincial bus na maghahatid sa kanilang destinasyon sa Metro Manila," the LTFRB stated.
"Ang mga provincial bus operators ay inaasahang sumunod sa kanilang kasunduan sa MMDA at maging sa mga tunkulin at responsibilidad bilang isang common carrier," the agency said.
"Dahil sa kanilang hindi pagsunod at lantarang paglabag sa kanilang mga special permits at CPC para mag-operate tinitiyak ng pamunuan ng LTFRB na sila papanagutin sa tahasang paglabag na ito," it added.