CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 10 has started allowing the modernized public utility jeepneys (PUJs) and buses in Northern Mindanao to accommodate passengers beyond capacities.
The decision contained in the LTFRB central office’s memorandum circular 2022-070 issued recently was to address the commuters’ struggle due to the surge of passengers during peak hours.
However, under the said memorandum circular, a maximum of 15 standing passengers (at least one person apart) are allowed for low entry or low floor public utility buses (PUBs). For coach-type PUBs, only a maximum of ten (10) standing passengers are allowed.
Meanwhile, for modernized PUJs-Class 2, only a maximum of five standing passengers are allowed.
The memorandum circular is applicable to all areas in the country that have been placed under alert level 1 status, where 100 percent seating capacity for public transport has already been implemented.
LTFRB-10 Director Aminoden Guro said in a phone interview on Thursday, Sept. 29, that they already deployed their inspection team to strictly monitor the implementation.
“Everyday, we have roadside inspections so that we can monitor these units that tend to overload their passengers and not follow the recent memorandum circular,” Guro said.
In the Northern Mindanao region, there are 100 modernized PUJs that have been operating, Guro added.
Failure to comply with the memorandum, appropriate penalties shall be imposed against the operator under the provisions of Joint Administrative Order No. 2014-01.
Guro elaborated that a penalty of P5,000 will be imposed for the first offense and P10,000 for the second offense if the transport unit would be found guilty for the violation.
Luzviminda Escobidal, manager of PN Roa Canitoan Transport Cooperative (POTRANSCO), said in a separate phone interview on Thursday, Sept.,that she is in favor of allowing the standing passengers as all passengers are eager to take the public transport, especially during rush hours.
“At least now we can accommodate those passengers that are in a rush and willing to stand inside the public transport,” said Escobidal, adding that the said development could also help their income.
POTRANSCO has 20 units of modernized PUJs that operate in their route in Cagayan de Oro City.
As part of ensuring the proper implementation, Escobidal also has asked the drivers and conductors to strictly follow the required number of standing passengers for modernized PUJs to avoid penalties.