The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Feb. 8 that it issued either a show cause order (SCO) or notice to comply to 29 more operators of public utility vehicle (PUV) terminals nationwide amid the continuing inspections to ensure the safety and welfare of passengers.
Last week, the LTFRB also summoned and issued notice of violations against 57 operators of terminals of passenger buses and other PUVs across the country.
LTFRB regional directors likewise started deploying personnel to conduct random and surprise inspections in their respective areas of responsibility since last week.
Of the 155 bus and PUV terminals initially inspected nationwide, 87 were found to be non-compliant with the rules and regulations of the LTFRB on what facilities they must have to ensure safety and comfort of passengers.
Among the key facilities that were specifically given focus in the inspections are comfortable waiting areas with sufficient protection from weather conditions, clean comfort rooms, accessibility of facilities to senior citizens and persons with disabilities, existence of fire extinguishers and CCTVs, and wide entry and exit points, the LTFRB said.
These inspections, the Board said, stemmed from numerous complaints and observations about dilapidated PUV terminals not only in Metro Manila but also in the provinces.
In some cases, passengers are left waiting and lining up along the roadside while a number of terminals do not even have facilities accessible to senior citizens and PWDs. The worst part is that some terminals have no working comfort rooms while some even charge the passengers for using comfort rooms.
LTFRB chairperson, Atty. Vigor Mendoza II, said the regular inspection will now be a new normal. “This is the only way at this point to instill in the minds of the operators that they must comply with the regulations at all times.”
He said that all LTFRB regional directors were instructed to submit compliance report and tasked to sustain the efforts until all terminal operators are compelled to comply. “We will not hesitate to shut down the operation of bus terminals whose operators remain defiant. We did it before, we can do it always if they will not comply.”
Last week, a bus terminal in Iloilo was issued with a cease-and-desist order for gross violations of rules and regulations on passenger safety.
Ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers at PUV terminals complements the planned implementation of a new policy that will prevent run-down PUVs from renewing their franchises, the LTFRB stressed. ||
