LTFRB summons bus firm over viral bad experience of netizen in Alabang terminal
(LTFRB)
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has summoned a bus company over a viral post detailing how passengers were made to wait for several hours in a public utility vehicle (PUV) terminal in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
A show cause order was already issued to the bus firm and LTFRB Chairperson Vigor D. Mendoza II said the company was directed to explain why its franchise should not be revoked or suspended over the incident.
“Based on the narration, the behavior of the driver and conductor is not acceptable. We will teach them a lesson to send a strong message that this kind of behavior is not tolerated and must be corrected,” said Mendoza.
The LTFRB action was based on the monitoring of the agency’s social media team that came across with a viral post of netizen Tino Olivarez.
According to the Facebook post, he boarded the bus bound for Lucena City at around 10 p.m. but two hours later, the passenger bus did not leave and even asked the passengers to pay for the fare.
And when he decided to leave and asked for a refund after more than three hours of waiting, the bus conductor refused to give back the money.
In the show cause order, the operator of the bus company was given 10 days to explain in notarized writing why its franchise should not be suspended or cancelled for failure to provide comfortable services to the commuters.
The bus company was also asked to attend the hearing set on March 19 at the LTFRB Central Office.
“We are giving them the opportunity to explain their side as part of the due process. What we can assure is that the LTFRB is always on the side of the commuter in cases of abuses and wrongdoings,” said Mendoza.
Mendoza also urged the public to immediately report any violation and abuses by PUV operators and drivers.
“Abuses and bad behavior of drivers and conductors are normalized because commuters would not stand their ground and push back,” said Mendoza.
“Let us not allow this to happen. All our kababayan must do is to report and document their complaints and we will take care of the rest,” he added.