The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has announced it has approved the opening of six new routes for public utility buses (PUBs) that will traverse the National Capital Region (NCR) and its outlying areas.
“We, therefore, appeal to our riding public for more patience as we are continually studying the viability of opening more routes, whether new or existing, with great consideration of current health protocols so that passengers can travel safely and easily,” said LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III.
In Memorandum Circular No. 2022-083, the LTFRB approved the opening of the following new routes:
Antipolo – McKinley Hill via FVR Road, C-5
Antipolo – McKinley Hill via C-6
McKinley Hill – Southwoods Mall Transport Terminal
Ayala – Southwoods Mall Transport Terminal
Alabang (SST) – Naic via Governor’s Drive
Cubao – Dasmariñas via Governor’s Drive
Citing the guidelines in the memorandum, the LTFRB said interested operators who have consolidated operationally and with brand new or Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG)–compliant units will be given preference.
The memorandum further stated that “if the selected qualified operators have no brand new/OFG compliant units, the applicant is given six months to operate non-compliant units, leased or owned, with a special permit during the interim period.”
“The decision to open new bus routes came after extensive monitoring and ground validation, and we saw the need to provide more public land transportation services because of increasing passenger demand,” said Joel Bolano, head of the Technical Division of the LTFRB.
“We hope that these new bus routes will provide convenience to passengers commuting via these areas as we slowly traverse the new normal.”