The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Sept. 6 that it will start accepting applications for special permits for the All Saints’ and All Souls’ days on Sept. 21 in a bid to provide sufficient public transportation for millions of Filipinos for the annual observation of “undas”.
The early processing of application is in compliance with the instruction of DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez to ensure a reliable and comfortable passenger buses for millions of Filipinos, who would go to their hometowns to honor their departed loved ones.
Acting LTFRB chairman, Atty. Greg Pua Jr., said the date of filing will be from Sept. 21 to Oct. 2 in order to give the agency personnel enough time to review all the documents of the units, particularly on the aspect of road worthiness.
“This is an annual travel for a large number of our kababayan and on the part of the LTFRB, our early preparations are intended to ensure their safe and comfortable travel to and from their home provinces,” Pua said in a press release.
“The goal is to ensure that there will be no stranded passengers by making sure that there will be sufficient passenger buses and other appropriate public transportation,” he added.
The duration of the special permit is from Oct. 28 to Nov. 6.
Last year, more than 800 passenger buses were given special permits for the All Saints’ and All Souls’ days.
The LTFRB said that among the requirements for applications were Official Receipt/Certificate of Registration (OR/CR) of the unit; valid Personal Passenger Accident Insurance (PPAI); and for juridical entity, board resolution and/or secretary’s certificate authorizing the application for Special Permit and designating the authorized representative/s to file the petition.
The LTFRB, on the other hand, set conditions for the application and approval, including only 50 percent of the total authorized units per operator per authorized route to be allowed; units applied should not be more than 14 years old from the date of manufacture; and, the specific address of the terminals at both ends of the applied route should be listed.
Pua assured fair processing of the applications. “There will be no palakasan.”
He also urged applicants to immediately report any individual or group that may take advantage of the application process, through the LTFRB Hotline 1342 and social media accounts. ||
