LTFRB issues show cause order vs 6 provincial bus operators amid window hours confusion

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has issued a Show Cause Order (SCO) against the operators of six operators of provincial buses that did not operate in Pampanga early this week which caused thousands of commuters in the province to be stranded.

Issued with SCOs were Victory Liner Inc., Genesis Transport Service Inc., Bataan Transit Bus Co. Inc., Five Star Bus Inc., First North Luzon Transit Inc., and Maria De Leon.

"Based on the investigation, these six provincial bus operators did not operate in various bus terminals in Pampanga on April 20. This caused long queues and long hours of waiting for thousands of commuters," the LTFRB statement read.

Netizens criticized the government on April 20 as photos and videos of stranded commuters were posted in social media.

Among the areas where stranded commuters were monitored were the Dau Terminal, Mabalacat; Robinson Mall Terminal, San Fernando City; Victory Liner Terminal, San Fernando City; Bataan Transit Terminal, San Fernando City; Genesis Terminal, San Fernando Cityl; Bus Stop in Mexico town.

The incident was actually triggered by the confusion in the implementation of the 10 p.m.- 5a.m. window hours for provincial buses to enter Metro Manila.

Some bus operators did not operate as they reasoned out that they were not supposed to operate beyond the window hours.

But the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) questioned the motive, saying it was clear during the series of discussions that the implementation of the window hours does not mean that they will no longer operate outside the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. time frame.

The MMDA said that it is clear that provincial buses cannot enter Metro Manila outside the window hours but can still operate provided that they unload and pick up passengers at the North Luzon Express Terminal in Bocaue, Bulacan for those coming from the northern Luzon and at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange for those coming from southern Luzon.

The LTFRB, for its part, said it has already instructed the six provincial bus operators to explain why they did not operate on April 20.

The bureau also instructed the six provincial bus operators to designate representatives for the LTFRB en banc hearing on May 10 via Zoom.