ZAMBOANGA CITY – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board – Regional Franchising and Regulatory Office announced on Thursday, Jan. 6, the opening of provincial borders in the region for public utility vehicles (PUVs) effective Jan. 16, 2021.
The announcement was made during the 8th Joint Regional Inter-Agency Task Force – Regional Task Force Covid-19 meeting last December 4, 2020, the recommendation of the RIATF-RTF Covid-19 Technical Working Group to open provincial borders for PUVs effective January 16, 2021 was approved thru a Joint Resolution No. 11, series of 2020 dated December 7, 2020,” the LTFRB-RFRO-9 said.
On Tuesday, Jan. 5, LTFRB XI Regional Director Nonito Llanos III was installed as Regional Director of the LTFRB-RFRO-9 in concurrent capacity.
Llanos conducted a zoom meeting on Wednesday with the Local Government Units (LGUs), Rural Transit Mindanao Inc. (RTMI) Branch Managers and Integrated Bus Terminal Managers in Region 9 to discuss the said joint resolution.
According to LTFRB-RFRO-9, to ensure that the operation is well monitored, they requested for resumption of operation initially for Public Utility Bus Only on the following inter-provincial routes with common pick/drop-off terminal for each province:
Route 1 – Zamboanga City (Integrated Bus Terminal Divisoria) to Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay Province (RTMI terminal) and vice versa;
Route 2 – Zamboanga City (IBT Divisoria) to Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur (IBT Bulatok) and vice versa, with mandatory stop over for restroom break at RTMI terminal in Ipil;
Route 3 – Zamboanga City (IBT Divisoria) to Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte (IBT Dipolog City) and vice versa, with mandatory stop over for restroom break at RTMI terminal in Ipil;
Route 4 – Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay Province (RTMI terminal) to Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur (IBT Bulatok) and vice versa;
Route 5 – Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay Province (RTMI terminal) to Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte (IBT Dipolog City) and vice versa;, and
Route 6 – Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur to Dipolog City (IBT Bulatok) to Zamboanga del Norte (IBT Dipolog City) and vice versa.
In a statement the agency said, the operation of the Public Land Transportation will be strictly on Point to Point basis, where no pick up or drop off of passengers along the way will be allowed. Bus operators are required to be compliant with the government’s safety protocols and must secure Special Permits. Basic safety protocols are still up.”
It added that everyone is required to wear face mask, face shield, and maintain hygiene for safety of fellow passengers. Passengers must secure their trip tickets at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to actual schedule of trip. No on-the-day or walk-in tickets shall be sold except for emergency purposes.
Emergency shall cover only those concerning immediate family matters or medical concerns and passengers must still present required travel documents,” the LTFRB-RFRO-9 said.
For passengers to be allowed on board, they must bring valid identification cards and travel pass and documents required by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) like employment certificates or medical papers.
Aside from the identification documents, a passenger is required to bring a consent letter stating that they are willing to undergo swab testing or be placed under quarantine if the need arises. Requirements may vary depending on the requirements for entry set by different provinces in the region. No Travel Documents, No Boarding Policy shall be enforced.”. – Newsline.ph
