The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said on Friday, April 8, that it is coordinating with partner government agencies to prepare for the influx of passengers this upcoming Holy Week.
LTFRB Executive Director Kristina Cassion said that the agency is teaming up with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (I-ACT), and the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), to implement "Ang Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa," which seeks to secure the safety of passengers during the Lenten season.
“Noong Monday nagkaroon tayo ng inspections sa terminals to check po 'yong kanilang compliance sa health and safety protocols and readiness nila na tumanggap ng dagsa ng mga pasahero (Last Monday, we inspected terminals to check their compliance with health and safety protocols and their readiness to accommodate passengers),” Cassion said over a Laging Handa briefing.
“Yesterday, we had a core meeting with the PNP, IACT and other enforcement agencies para sa maigting na seguridad (to ensure the strict enforcement of security),” she added.
In an earlier statement, LTFRB revealed that North Luzon Expressway Terminal (NLET); Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITx); Santa Rosa Integrated Terminal (SRiT); Araneta Center Terminal are allowed to drop off and pick up passengers.
The agency has also identified where to install Malasakit Help Desks where passengers may address their concerns and needs related to their trips during the Holy Week from April 10 to 16.
Moreover, it allowed provincial buses to use their private terminal based on the Window Scheme implemented by MMDA from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
“Pinapaalala ng ahensya sa mga driver, operator, at pasahero na sundin ang mga alituntunin ng LTFRB, lalo na sa mga itinakdang sakayan at babaan ng mga provincial bus. Papatawan ng kaukulang parusa ang mga driver at operator na mahuhuling lalabag sa mga alituntunin ng ahensya (The agency reminds drivers, operators, and passengers to follow LTFRB guidelines, especially on scheduled boarding and disembarking of provincial buses. Drivers and operators caught violating agency rules will be penalized accordingly),” Cassion said.