Govt allays fears of metro bus shortage

THE government on Thursday allayed fear of a bus shortage on the major highway, especially during rush hours following the suspension of 672 city buses and the cancellation of 129-bus fleet of singer-businesswoman Claire de la Fuente to operate along Edsa.

Manuel Iway, lawyer-board member of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, said they are ready for the worst scenario as he dispelled speculations of a bus shortage even the cancellation of De la Fuente’s 129 bus units.

On Wednesday, the LTFRB suspended 672 bus units of 14 operators, namely: the Admiral Transport, Don Mariano Transit, Arabia Boy, Jacinto Torres, Luzon Bus, Ma-Fel Transit, Mannrose Liner, Margarito Penalosa, Nova Auto Transit, Panda Transit, Roval Transit, GI5000 Inc., Voyager Express, and Wendell Littad for six months.

“We continue to closely monitor passenger ridership on the first day of the implementation of our order,” Iway told the Manila Standard. “So far, nobody has yet been stranded on the road.”

Under the law, affected bus operators are given a chance to file an appeal with the Department of Transportation and Communications.

The sanction was the offshoot of the bus companies’ involvement in last year’s massive transport strike to oppose the supposed enforcement of the number-coding scheme for public utility buses.

The LTFRB ruled the bus companies had violated the provisions in their franchise to provide reliable transport services.

Iway said they have already discussed some contingency measures with various groups of tourist bus units to augment any bus shortage that may arise from the suspension and cancellation of hundreds of city buses in the metro.

“Operators of the tourist transport sector are more than willing to offer their services to commuting public on Edsa,” he added.

Yves Gonzales, Metro Manila Development Authority’s Traffic Discipline Office chief, gave the assurance that the government is in control of the situation. –Rio N. Araja, Manila Standard Today