LTFRB summons 29 transport terminal operators over poor facilities
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Sunday said it has called out 29 operators of bus and public utility vehicle (PUV) terminals over their inadequate facilities following a nationwide inspection.
In a statement, the LTFRB said a show-cause order or a notice to comply has been issued to 29 operators of public transport terminals after failing to comply with the agency’s regulations and lacking certain facilities that are necessary for the passengers’ safety and comfort.
“The regular inspection of bus and PUV terminals will now be a new normal. This is the only way at this point to instill in the minds of the operators that they must comply with the regulations at all times,” said LTFRB Chair Vigor Mendoza.
He added that the initiative also seeks to “send a message to passengers that they have the right to safe and comfortable transportation terminals, and that the LTFRB is always on their side in this aspect.”
According to the LTFRB, its regional directors began deploying personnel to conduct random and surprise inspections across the country last week, checking over 155 bus and PUV terminals.
Out of the 155 terminals inspected, the LTFRB said 87 were found to be noncompliant with its regulations and did not have some of the necessary facilities.
The inspections focused on checking for “comfortable waiting areas with sufficient protection from weather conditions, clean comfort rooms, accessibility of facilities to senior citizens and persons with disabilities, existence of fire extinguishers and CCTV, and wide entry and exit points,” the agency said.
Most of the noncompliant terminals whose operators received either a summon or a notice to comply were in Northern Mindanao, which had 20, while 13 were in Metro Manila and 12 were located in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon).
In addition to the inspection of transport terminals, Mendoza said the LTFRB would also be implementing a new policy that would bar operators of rundown PUVs from renewing their franchises.
Moreover, Mendoza said he has also instructed all LTFRB regional directors to submit compliance reports and sustain their current efforts until all erring terminal operators have complied.
The LTFRB noted that just last week, it had issued a cease-and-desist order to a bus terminal in Iloilo over its “gross violations” of the agency’s rules and regulations regarding passenger safety.
