The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Monday opened 17 new Metro Manila routes for 1,943 traditional public utility jeepneys (PUJs) starting July 29.
The agency said traditional jeepneys with routes indicated in its Memorandum Circular (MC) 2020-029 can ply their existing routes with no special permit necessary beginning Wednesday.
In lieu of the Special Permit, a corresponding QR Code shall be issued to the operator prior to operation, which must be printed on an 8.5” x 11” paper (short bond paper size) and displayed in the PUJ.
The operator may secure their QR Code by downloading it from the LTFRB website starting tomorrow, July 28, at 3 p.m.
The existing fare matrix of P9 for the first four kilometers and P1.50 for succeeding kilometer(s) shall be followed. Operators are reminded that no fare adjustment shall be applied unless approved by the Board.
As part of the requirements to operate, traditional PUJs should also be currently registered roadworthy with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and with valid Personal Passenger Insurance Policy.
Operators are also required to comply with safety measures prescribed by the Inter-Agency Task for Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) before, during, and after operations, such as checking of body temperature, wearing of face mask or shield and gloves at all times, and operating at a maximum of 50 percent capacity.
Only the following routes will be operational:
MCU – Sangandaan; Novaliches – Rizal Ave. via A. Bonifacio; Tandang Sora – Visayas Ave. via Quezon City Hall; Monumento – Paco, Obando via M.H. Del Pilar; Quirino Highway – Sta. Lucia; Crame – Cubao via Murphy; Crame – Q. Mart via P. Tuazon, E. Garcia; SSS Village, Marikina – Cubao, Quezon City; Parang, Marikina – Marikina (TP) via Fortune; Guadalupe (ABC) – Taguig via Tipas; Calumpang – Cubao via P. Tuazon; Ayala – Guadalupe (Ibabaw) via JP Rizal; Libertad, Pasay – Pasay Rd.; Paco – Sta.Mesa Rotonda via Nagtahan; Pier South – Sta. Ana via P. Faura; Navotas – Recto via Heroes Del 96; and Gate 5 – Greenhills Shopping Center Loop.
Failure to comply with the conditions set forth by the Board will incur penalties from imposition of fines to cancellation or suspension of the Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) or Provisional Authority (PA), the agency said.