THE Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has approved over 1,100 special passenger bus permits for trips during this year's observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
Acting LTFRB Chairman Greg Pua Jr. said on Tuesday that the special permit issuance aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to ensure sufficient public transportation.
“Of course, it was also approved by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez,” Pua told The Manila Times.
Citing the bureau’s records, Pua said the 1,131 approved special permits stemmed from 384 special permit applications already granted in anticipation of the seasonal surge in passengers as Filipinos go their hometowns to visit their dearly departed.
An additional batch of 28 applications, covering roughly 90 buses, remains under evaluation, the agency said.
"Our approval process involves a stringent review to confirm that the units receiving special permits are truly roadworthy for long-distance travel. The safety of passengers and other road users cannot be compromised," said Pua.
The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange had earlier projected over 1.9 million passengers for the Undas exodus, with travelers moving between Metro Manila and the northern and southern regions of Luzon in both directions.
The figure also includes those bound for provinces in Visayas and Mindanao, according to LTFRB.
Pua stressed that the seasonal increase in passenger volume makes it essential to ensure enough buses are available to serve the riding public.
The approved permits cover routes to and from Manila that serve major urban centers across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, he said.
John Paul Allen Victa, LTFRB executive director, who heads the office handling review and approval of special permits, said 1,080 of the approved units will originate from Metro Manila.
These include 402 buses for the Metro Manila-Northern Luzon route, 290 for Metro Manila-Central Luzon, 185 for Metro Manila-Southern Luzon, and 61 for Metro Manila-Bicol Region.
Victa added that the LTFRB also cleared 19 units for Metro Manila-Eastern Visayas, 13 for Metro Manila-Western Visayas, and 10 for Metro Manila-Mindanao.
The remaining approved units will serve routes in the Northern, Central, and Bicol Regions that do not pass through Metro Manila, Victa said.
"All our efforts are meant to ensure a safe and comfortable journey for our ‘kababayan’ (countrymen) as they travel to and from their hometowns for this important annual religious tradition honoring our departed loved ones," Pua said.
