Bus operators claim losing millions from unfair rivalry

LEGITIMATE public utility bus operators covering the Manila to Bulacan route are losing almost P1 million a day because of the rampant operation of out-of-line buses on the said route and traffic authorities are doing nothing about it.

This was revealed by Elena Ong of the San Jose del Monte Bulacan Bus Operators Group and at the same time called the attention of incoming Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Alberto Suansing to do something about the matters.

In a media forum over the weekend, Ong said that around 55 bus units of Jayross Lucky Seven Tours have been operating along the Manila to Bulacan route even without the necessary franchise of the LTFRB.

Ong said Jayross Lucky Seven Tours has a total of 75 bus units and only 20 of their units have the valid franchise to operate in the said route while the other 55 units are assigned to other routes of operation in Metro Manila.

However, for some unknown reasons, all the 55 bus units manage to go out of their route and illegally enter the Manila to Bulacan operation virtually robbing the legitimate bus operators in the area of their income.

The Bulacan bus operators group, which has 18 member bus companies, are wondering how Jayeoos busses have managed to operate outside their assigned route of operation without being caught either by the traffic personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Land Transportation Office 0r the local enforcers of Bulacan.

“We are all legitimate bus operators who are seriously following the law and it is unfair for us that some favored bus operators are allowed to violate the law,” Ong stressed adding that they have proofs to support their claims.

Ong is also wondering how the said bus company could manage to continue its illegal operation despite of the existence of the Radio Frequency Identification Device of the MMDA which was installed by the agency to address the problem of kolorum vehicles or out-of-line buses.

The installation of said identification device is part of the organized bus route program of the MMDA which involves the installation of “micro-chips” on all bus units. Under the program, bus terminals and loading bays are equipped with tracking device and cameras that will monitor every bus.

Ong also questioned the lack of action on the part of the local government of Bulacan particularly its local traffic management office under a certain Pablo Ochoco.
— Jefferson Antiporda, Philippine Star