LTFRB allows PUVs to increase passenger capacity to 70% starting today

Do not be surprised if you see public utility vehicles getting more cramped beginning today.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has allowed a higher capacity of 70 percent for jeepneys, buses, UV Express, in Metro Manila and nearby provinces — up from the 50-percent limit that was imposed earlier.

Based on LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2021-064 issued November 2, specific public utility vehicles in the Greater Manila Area “may operate under the approved passenger capacity as a result of the continuous decline in COVID-19 infections and government’s aggressive COVID-19 vaccination roll-out.”

The latest regulation was implemented following the approval of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and LTFRB’s recommendation to gradually increase the passenger capacity in public transportation — including road and railway systems — for one month until they reach full capacity.

Aside from the increase, the LTFRB clarified that the plastic barriers inside public utility jeepneys are not required nationwide — provided that proper physical distancing is observed, and passengers practice health and safety protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
 
“Hindi ‘ho DOTr ang nag-require na magkaroon ng plastic barrier sa pagitan ng mga pasahero ng pampublikong sasakyan gaya ng jeepney. Ang inilabas na protocol ng DOTr noon ay ang pag-install ng plastic barrier upang ihiwalay ang drayber sa pasahero noong tayo ay nasa GCQ (general community quarantine) noong nakaraang taon (The DOTr did not require plastic barriers to be placed in between passengers of public transport such as jeepney. The DOTr protocol released then was to install a plastic barrier to separate the driver from the passenger when we were under GCQ last year),” LTFRB Chair Martin Delgra clarified. 

According to the Delgra, there is a need to increase passenger capacity as quarantine restrictions are beginning to ease and more businesses are reopening. Aside from that, the increase in passenger capacity will help dampen the impact of the pandemic as well as the continuing fuel price hike.

“The livelihood of public transport drivers and operators was severely affected with passenger capacity in public transport maintained at 50 percent. Increasing passenger capacity will mean a higher revenue for the public transport sector lalo’t mas marami ng tao ang pinapayagang lumabas. Malaking tulong ito sa ating mga kababayang pasahero at mga tsuper (Increasing passenger capacity will mean higher revenues for the public transport sector as more people are allowed to travel. This is a great help to our fellow passengers and drivers),” Delgra noted.

However, despite the relaxing of restrictions and the increase in passenger capacity, strict observance of minimum health protocols will still be implemented.

To note, it is also today that the Metro Manila Council has lifted the curfew in Metro Manila.

Photos from Metropolitan Manila Development Authority

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