Public transport operators seeking to deploy additional buses for the Undas travel rush may begin filing for special permits on Sept. 21, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said.
The filing period will run until Oct. 2, several weeks ahead of the expected surge of passengers traveling to the provinces for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
Acting LTFRB chair Greg Pua Jr. said applications were being processed early to allow sufficient time to examine vehicle documents and determine whether units were fit for operation.
Special permits granted by the agency will cover operations from Oct. 28 through Nov. 6. The additional capacity is intended to help prevent shortages of provincial transportation during one of the country’s busiest annual travel periods.
The LTFRB issued special permits to more than 800 buses for last year’s Undas operations. This year, each operator may seek permits for up to half of the units authorized on a particular route.
Eligible buses must not be more than 14 years old from their manufacturing date. Operators must also specify the terminals to be used at both ends of the requested route.
Required documents include the units’ Official Receipt and Certificate of Registration and valid Personal Passenger Accident Insurance. Companies and other juridical entities must additionally submit authorization documents identifying representatives who may process their applications.
Pua said applications would undergo the same evaluation process and warned against attempts to secure preferential treatment. The LTFRB encouraged applicants to report suspected irregularities through Hotline 1342 or its official social media channels.