UV Express units return to ply 47 routes starting today

MANILA: A measure of relief is forthcoming for public transportation-challenged commuters. Over the weekend, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced that it is allowing 980 UV Express units to return to Metro Manila roads and nearby provinces.

An initial 47 routes will be serviced starting today.

In a Philippine News Agency (PNA) report, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra said “the approved guidelines rationalizing the deployment of the 980 UV Express plying 47 routes is in line with the gradual, calibrated and calculated approach of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on the resumption of public transportation in Metro Manila amid the general community quarantine (GCQ).”

The official added that the agency is not ruling out the possibility of fielding additional modern and traditional jeepneys to augment the UV Express fleet, depending on passenger demand.

The LTFRB is reiterating that operators and drivers of UV Express units need to strictly comply with its Memorandum Circular 2020-025 guidelines.

These stress that UV Express trips should be point to point; there will be no picking up and dropping off of passengers on the way. The vehicles are also prohibited from passing through EDSA and Commonwealth Avenue, except to cross. The existing fare of P2 per kilometer must be kept, and violations of any Circular guideline can lead to fines, franchise suspension or cancellation, Delgra added.

At the moment, the commuting public is struggling with a severely hampered public transportation system as government has put in safety measures amid the pandemic. Modes of transport allowed to operate have been doing so at a fraction of their capacity as physical distancing measures have been enacted.

Traditional jeepneys and the majority of public buses have been particularly hard-hit as they are yet to be allowed to ply their routes. Modern jeepneys have largely replaced the traditional ones, leading to widespread dissent among the latter’s operators and drivers.

The PNA report listed some of the more significant orders:

• UV Express operators must regularly examine a driver’s fitness to work – that he or she is COVID-19 free;

• Drivers and conductors must wear masks and gloves at all times;

• Commuters are also required to wear masks before boarding a vehicle;

• The exact fare must be paid prior to boarding the public utility vehicle (PUV) or operators/drivers may devise any fare collection system (such as use of a fare drop off) to minimize/prevent the spread of COVID-19;

• No more than two passengers per row can be accommodated, and they must be seated one seat apart;

• Operators must install impermeable barriers to seal off the driver’s compartment and between rows of seats that are less than one meter apart;

Approved UV Express routes include the following:

1. Meycauayan - Central Integrated Terminal (QC)
2. Obando - MRT North Ave., QC
3. Sto. Niño (Meycauayan Bulacan) - MRT North Ave.
4. Sto. Niño (Meycauayan Bulacan) - Trinoma, MRT North Ave./Mindanao Ave.
5. Heritage (Meycauayan Bulacan) - SM North (QC)
6. Marilao (Bulacan) - SM North Ave.
7. Sto. Niño (Meycauayan Bulacan) - Central Integrated Terminal (QC)
8. SM Marilao (Bulacan) - SM North (QC)
9. Malhacan (Meycauayan Bulacan) - Quezon Ave. via NLEX
10. Malhacan (Meycauayan Bulacan) - Central Integrated Terminal (QC)
11. Marilao - Central Integrated Terminal (QC)
12. Marilao Terminal - Quezon Ave. Terminal (MRT)
13. Turo (Bocaue, Bulacan) - Central Integrated Terminal
14. Turo (Bocaue, Bulacan) - Central Integrated Terminal via NLEX
15. Turo (Bocaue, Bulacan)) - MRT/Quezon Ave. Terminal via NLEX
16. SM Marilao (Bulacan) - Central Integrated Terminal
17. Meycauayan - Recto
18. Balagtas - Monumento
19. Springville, Molino, Bacoor - Alabang via Daanghari
20. Molino - Alabang via Daanghari
21. Molino Bacoor - Ayala Center Terminal via Skyway
22. Golden City (Dasmariñas) - Ayala Center
23. Pacita - Makati Square
24. Pacita Complex - Ayala Center Terminal via San Pedro Exit
25. Pacita Complex (Laguna) - SM Makati
26. Pacita (San Pedro, Laguna) - Makati Square
27. Pacita Complex - Ayala Center via Southwoods Exit
28. Barangay Mamatid (Cabuyao, Laguna) - Festival Mall
29. Mamatid (Cabuyao, Laguna) - Festival Mall (Alabang)
30. Balibago (Laguna) - SM Southmall (Las Piñas)
31. Taytay – Edsa Central
32. Greenland Executive Village (Cainta) - Ayala
33. Rodgriguez - Sta. Lucia Grandmall (Cainta)
34. Masinag - Ayala
35. Antipolo - Ayala
36. Antipolo - Ayala Via C5
37. Antipolo - Ayala Via Tikling
38. Antipolo - Ayala Via Circumferential Rd.
39. San Mateo (Rizal) - Ayala Ave.
40. Binangonan - Sta. Lucia (Cainta)
41. Binangonan - SM Megamall
42. Binangonan -Edsa Starmall
43. Binangonan - Eds Central
44. Binangonan - Marikina Riverbank via LRT Santolan
45. Cardona - Edsa Starmall
46. Cardona - Edsa Central
47. Morong - SM Megamall (PR)

Photo from the Department of Transportation

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