LTFRB: Provincial bus riders must secure travel pass, advance booking

MANILA: As the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)  prepares for the resumption of provincial bus services today (September 30), the agency announces that it will require passengers to secure a travel pass and advance booking before they are allowed to board.

There will be no exemptions to this rule as per the LTFRB, even for authorized persons outside residence (APOR).

“Kailangan po ang mga pasahero meron silang mga travel pass galing po sa ating PNP (Philippine National Police) at sa LGU (local government units) according po sa ipinapatupad ng ating IATF-EID (Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases). Hindi po basta gusto nilang bumiyahe ay makakabiyahe po sila (Passengers will need to secure a travel pass from the PNP and their LGU in accordance with the policies of the IATF-EID. They can’t just travel just because they want to.),” said LTFRB Technical Division Chief Joel Bolano in a radio interview.

Advance booking means that provincial bus riders will not be allowed to pay for their fare on the day of travel, even if they’re already at the terminal. Tickets for the trip must be purchased at least two days in advance.

“Advance booking po ito, hindi po sila pwedeng magbayad nang nasa sasakyan na. Yung mga nakasakay, nakabayad na po ito. Kailangan po para sa contact tracing natin ay may advance booking (We’re implementing advance booking. Paying inside the bus will not be allowed. All those inside a bus should have paid already. Advance booking is also necessary for contact tracing),” Bolano added.

On top of the travel pass and advance booking requirement, provincial bus riders will also be required to present a valid ID with their address or place of origin, age, and school or workplace; a written consent from the passenger to allow for COVID-19 testing and possible quarantine; and other documents required by the IATF-EID and their respective LGUs.

As per the LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2020-051 released on Saturday, 12 provincial bus routes going to the Araneta Center Bus Terminal and the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) will resume operations beginning Wednesday. Passengers of these provincial buses will be required to wear face masks and shields at all times, use alcohol or hand sanitizers, adhere to one-meter physical distancing, refrain from eating, drinking, and talking with other passengers or with a mobile phone inside the PUB (public utility bus).

Photo from LTFRB Facebook page

Also read: LTO, LTFRB to take services online