The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has announced that provincial Public Utility Buses are now allowed back for inter-regional trips.
Memorandum Circular 2022-023 covers public bus operators with valid and existing certificates that assure public convenience, provisional authority, and the necessary special permits.
The bureau also reminded that health and safety protocols must always be observed.
Buses plying the provincial commuter routes in the Calabazrzon region are now allowed back to take passengers in their original Araneta Bus Terminal in Cubao, Quezon City.
But provincial commuter routes with pre-pandemic end point at Buendia, Makati, Pasay, and Manila will still have to use the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), including routes coming from Quezon Province, Mimaropa (Southwestern Tagalog Region), and Bicol.
The circular added provincial buses from the Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, and Cordillera Administrative Region are also allowed to drop off passengers in North Luzon Express Terminal where there are city buses that can take them to Metro Manila.
Provincial buses from Central Luzon can pick up and drop off passengers at Araneta Cubao Terminal and NLET, depending on the route of the particular authorized unit.
PUBs from the Visayas and Mindanao en route to the National Capital Region are allowed to pick up and drop off passengers at Santa Rosa Integrated Terminal. Buses going to Metro Manila are stationed there.
The LTFRB reminds PUB operators to secure a QR code for each authorized unit before they can allow it out on the road. It can be downloaded from www.ltfrb.com.ph, and should be printed and posted on the unit’s front windshield.
Metro Manila and 38 other areas were placed under Alert Level 1 until March 15.
Under Alert Level 1, intrazonal and interzonal travel are allowed regardless of age and comorbidities while all establishments, persons, or activities are permitted to operate, work, or be done at full on-site capacity, provided that health standards are observed.
