Five more routes for passenger utility bus (PUB) have been approved amid transportation problems that are felt mostly by workers and students.

In a statement, the LTFRB said the new passenger bus routes, approved through a memorandum circular, are expected to benefit commuters from Rizal and Cavite going to the National Capital Region (NCR).

The new routes are Antipolo – McKinley Hill via FVR Road, C-5; Antipolo – McKinley Hill via C-6; McKinley Hill – Southwoods Mall Transport Terminal; Ayala – Southwoods Mall Transport Terminal; Alabang (SST) – Naic via Governor’s Drive; and Cubao – Dasmariñas via Governor’s Drive.

“The decision to open new bus routes came after extensive monitoring and ground validation, and we saw the need to provide more public land transportation services because of increasing passenger demand,” said Joel Bolano, head of the Technical Division of the LTFRB.

The LTFRB said interested operators who have consolidated operationally and with brand new or Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG)-compliant units will be given preference

"If the selected qualified operators have no brand new/OFG compliant units, the applicant is given six months to operate non-compliant units, leased or owned, with special permit during the interim period," the memorandum read.

For his part, LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III expressed optimism that the new routes will somehow help ease the discomfort of commuters amid complaints of passenger utility vehicle shortage in the past months.

“We hope that these new bus routes will provide convenience to passengers commuting via these areas as we slowly traverse the new normal," said Guadiz.

"We therefore appeal to our riding public for more patience as we are continually studying the viability of opening more routes, whether new or existing, with great consideration of current health protocols so that passengers can travel safely and easily,” he added.