The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) gave special permits to 639 additional provincial buses to accommodate the expected arrivals of passengers during the Christmas season.
“As of yesterday, may na-issue na tayo na 639 units na special permits para po doon sa papuntang probinsya, both north and south po ito,“ LTFRB technical division chief Joel Bolano said during a televised public briefing.
The application for a special permit is already closed, but Bolano said they will release more special permits once a need for more units arises.
Bolano added that the situation in bus terminals is still manageable amid the rush of passengers to go to the provinces before Christmas Day.
“As of last night, based doon sa mga tao natin na naka-deploy sa mga specific terminals like for example yung [Integrated Terminal Exchange] natin, so far manageable pa sang ayon yung ating mga buses at mga pasahero,” he said.
The LTFRB is in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Inter-Agency Council for Traffic, and local governments to prepare for the expected influx of passengers during the holidays.
— Ronald Espartinez