By Alexandria San Juan
All 31 rationalized routes for city buses are now open in the hope of easing the limited public transportation in the metropolis, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said on Thursday.
Route 10 traversing Cubao to Doroteo Jose was launched to ferry more essential commuters and augment passengers of the Light Rail Transit Line 2 which is running at a reduced passenger capacity.
(DOTr / MANILA BULLETIN)
Prior to the opening of Route 10, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the LTFRB have been launching other routes gradually since Metro Manila and nearby provinces shifted to a more relaxed general community quarantine (GCQ).
"Ang unti-unting pagbubukas ng mga ruta ay base sa gradual, calibrated, at in-phases approach na pinapairal ng pamahalaan sa pagbabalik-serbisyo ng pampublikong transportasyon," the LTFRB said. (The opening of routes is based on the gradual, calibrated, and in-phases approach that the government is implementing for the resumption of public transport services.)
"Araw-araw ang isinasagawang adjustment ng ating pamahalaan upang matulungan ang ating mga commuters, ngunit sa pamamaraang hindi malalagay sa alanganin ang kanilang kalusugan at kaligtasan," it added. (The government is making daily adjustments to help our commuters in ways that will not jeopardize their health and safety.)
These are the routes that have been opened since the first week of June:
1.) Portion of Route E (EDSA Carousel)
2.) Route 1 (Monumento-Balagtas)
3.) Route 2 (Monumento - PITX)
4.) Route 3 (Monumento-Valenzuela Gateway Complex)
5.) Route 4 (North EDSA-Fairview)
6.) Route 5 (Quezon Avenue-Angat)
7.) Route 6 (Quezon Ave.-EDSA Taft Ave.)
8.) Route 7 (Quezon Avenue-Montalban)
9.) Route 8 (Cubao-Montalban)
10.) Route 9 (Cubao-Antipolo)
11.) Route 11 (Gilmore-Taytay)
12.) Route 12 (Kalentong-Pasig)
13.) Route 13 (Buendia-BGC)
14.) Route 14 (Ayala-Alabang)
15.) Route 15 (Ayala-Biñan)
16.) Route 16 (Ayala Ave.-FTI)
17.) Route 17 (Monumento-EDSA Taft)
18.) Route 18 (PITX-NAIA Loop)
19.) Route 19 (North EDSA-BGC)
20.) Route 20 (Monumento-Meycauayan)
21.) Route 21 (Monumento-San Jose Del Monte)
22.) Route 22 (Monumento-Angat)
23.) Route 23 (PITX-Sucat)
24.) Route 24 (PITX-Alabang)
25.) Route 25 (BGC-Alabang)
26.) Route 26 (PITX-Naic)
27.) Route 27 (PITX-Trece Martires)
28.) Route 28 (PITX-Dasmariñas)
29.) Route 29 (PITX - General Mariano Alvarez)
30.) Route 30 (PITX-Cavite City)
The resumption of mass transit is being implemented by the LTFRB in two phases, as advised by the DOTr and the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Trains, bus augmentations, taxis, transport network vehicle services, shuttle services, point-to-point buses, city buses, and bicycles have been allowed in the first phase from June 1 to 21.
Modernized public utility jeepneys have also resumed operations during the second phase which began June 22 and will run until the end of the month.
UV Express units, which are also scheduled to go back on the roads on Phase 2, will be allowed "before the end of the month" as guidelines for their operations are being finalized.
With the resumption of many public transport services under GCQ, the LTFRB reminded operators and drivers to strictly follow the safety and health protocols it set to further curb the transmission of the coronavirus disease in public utility vehicles such as the mandatory wearing of face masks and gloves, putting up non-permeable and transparent barriers in their units, and enforcing a limited passenger capacity.