Davao buses resumes operation
Published May 28, 2020 12:00 am
By Ivy Tejano
DAVAO CITY — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 11 announced that the bus operations in Davao Oriental province have already resumed on Thursday, May 28, following its circular order.
MATI CIO / MANILA BULLETIN
The circular order allowed the “opening of routes in Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur under the authority of special permit for the operation of public transportation under General Community Quarantine (GCQ)”.
LTFRB-Davao regional director Armand B. Dioso said that a full operation of the bus routes allows the passengers to travel as far as the towns of Monkayo, Laak, New Bataan, and Maragusan in Davao de Oro.
Dioso added that buses are also allowed to operate in Mati City in Davao Oriental; and in Kapalong town in Davao del Norte, with stopovers in designated city/municipal terminals, while for the Boston route, the bus terminal in charge is still waiting for advice.
The buses coming from Mati City are only allowed to enter the terminals of Panabo and Tagum cities until further notice. The following terminals of Banaybanay, Pantukan, Tagum, and Panabo are the only allowed terminals for the stop over of the buses travelling to Mati City and vice-versa.
Based on the LTFRB order, the Panabo City in Davao del Norte has been designated as the point of origin for the inter-provincial routes in the three provinces. Dioso said the agency mandates all public utility buses to be equipped with thermo guns and thermal scanners for temperature check, foot baths and alcohol inside the bus. He added that as per the guidelines under the new normal, buses are only allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity.
“The passengers are also required to present their quarantine or working pass with a company identification card before they board the bus. Public utility buses should also strictly abide by the requisites and guidelines set by the LTFRB including special permits,” Dioso said.
Mati City Information Office head Ben Tesiorna, meanwhile, said that as part of the measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, new guidelines and policies released by the Davao Oriental will be implemented which include the strengthening of health screening measures at all entry points.
This is to ensure that all individuals coming in from areas with local transmission and confirmed COVID cases are properly screened, Tesiorna said, adding that based on an executive order released on May 27 but will take effect on June 1, “No Embarkation Form, No Entry Policy” will be applied.
“All passengers coming in the province must fill out the said form. The forms are downloadable in all media platforms. And that all passengers are allowed to board the PUBs only at terminals,” Tesiorna said.
The operators have also been informed that buses are not allowed to drop off and pick up passengers along the highway. Operation hours is set to run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays.
MATI CIO / MANILA BULLETIN
The circular order allowed the “opening of routes in Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur under the authority of special permit for the operation of public transportation under General Community Quarantine (GCQ)”.
LTFRB-Davao regional director Armand B. Dioso said that a full operation of the bus routes allows the passengers to travel as far as the towns of Monkayo, Laak, New Bataan, and Maragusan in Davao de Oro.
Dioso added that buses are also allowed to operate in Mati City in Davao Oriental; and in Kapalong town in Davao del Norte, with stopovers in designated city/municipal terminals, while for the Boston route, the bus terminal in charge is still waiting for advice.
The buses coming from Mati City are only allowed to enter the terminals of Panabo and Tagum cities until further notice. The following terminals of Banaybanay, Pantukan, Tagum, and Panabo are the only allowed terminals for the stop over of the buses travelling to Mati City and vice-versa.
Based on the LTFRB order, the Panabo City in Davao del Norte has been designated as the point of origin for the inter-provincial routes in the three provinces. Dioso said the agency mandates all public utility buses to be equipped with thermo guns and thermal scanners for temperature check, foot baths and alcohol inside the bus. He added that as per the guidelines under the new normal, buses are only allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity.
“The passengers are also required to present their quarantine or working pass with a company identification card before they board the bus. Public utility buses should also strictly abide by the requisites and guidelines set by the LTFRB including special permits,” Dioso said.
Mati City Information Office head Ben Tesiorna, meanwhile, said that as part of the measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, new guidelines and policies released by the Davao Oriental will be implemented which include the strengthening of health screening measures at all entry points.
This is to ensure that all individuals coming in from areas with local transmission and confirmed COVID cases are properly screened, Tesiorna said, adding that based on an executive order released on May 27 but will take effect on June 1, “No Embarkation Form, No Entry Policy” will be applied.
“All passengers coming in the province must fill out the said form. The forms are downloadable in all media platforms. And that all passengers are allowed to board the PUBs only at terminals,” Tesiorna said.
The operators have also been informed that buses are not allowed to drop off and pick up passengers along the highway. Operation hours is set to run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays.