The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said it was looking at opening more routes for public utility vehicles in Metro Manila at "every week or every other week" to ease mobility restrictions. This will apply to buses, jeeps and UV Express vans.
This is the agency's plan of action, following the House committee on Metro Manila development's order to reopen public transport by 30 percent, and by another 10 percent every week thereafter. The LTFRB called it a "partial, calibrated and gradual approach."
"At the moment, only 10 percent of all public transport are allowed to resume operations, but the directive from the different agencies and local government units is to increase transport in different areas," LTFRB-National Capital Region director Zona Tamayo was quoted by the Inquirer.
Despite the existing 212 routes for buses, UV Express vans, and jeepneys, majority of the public still find it hard to commute, especially those in areas farther away from the metro. The agency is also planning to resume operations at "feeder routes" that offer short trips and lead to main busways.
"But as I said, we're following a gradual, calibrated and partial approach to reopening transport, so we don't know yet how many exactly we will be reopening in the next weeks," Tamayo explained. "But definitely, whether it be by 30 percent or 10 percent, we will adjust the number of PUVs."
