TIME is up for school service vehicles aged 15 years and older.
Starting this month, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) would no longer be allowing such vehicles to operate.
Last year, the LTFRB issued memorandum circular allowing school bus services aged 15 years and older to operate pnly until March 31.
LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said there was a need for a 10-month transition period to assure the availability of school vehicles for next school year.
He said that based on the board’s evaluation, many school buses set to be phased out in 2015 may affect students going to school.
Operators of school services vehicles, upon filing their confirmation, would be required to submit an affidavit of undertaking to substitute their units that reached the age limit of 15 years before the opening of the school year.
The memo also directs school authorities not to accredit and/or allow the operation of school transport service units that are more than 15 years.
“We wanted to start phasing out 15-year-old school service vehicles much earlier, but decided to give operators a transition period,” Ginez said, noting that the phaseout was supposed to take place as early as 2014 then moved to 2015 and 2016.
“They (operators) promised that after a year they will comply. The Board’s decision is final and it won’t change,” he added.
LTFRB has also began checking the road-worthiness of school service vehicles in various schools in preparation for the upcoming opening of classes.
To date, LTFRB has found only minimal issues similar to last year’s issues such as the lack of seat belts and fire extinguishers, heavily tinted windows and balding tires.
The Board has already ordered these issues corrected.
Meanwhile, LTFRB board member Ariel Inton urged parents to assure that their children are transported by school service vehicles that are legitimate franchise holders.
“I urge parents to check before enrolling their children in a school service vehicle, to make sure the operator is a franchise holder,” Inton said. (pna)
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