LTFRB 10 lauds RTMI, calls on other bus firms to do the same

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent . 

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board – 10 (LTFRB-10) on Monday lauded Rural Transit Mindanao Incorporated (RTMI) after they followed modernization program on public utility vehicle (PUV).

LTFRB-10 regional director Aminoden Guro even encouraged other bus companies to follow the issued guidelines on the Planning and Identification of Public Road Transportation Services and Franchise Issuance) or the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) by the Department of Transportation.

“I am encouraging other bus companies to do the same,” said Guro.

Under the program, public utility vehicle owners and company were told to install dash camera and CCTV in monitoring the route of all vehicles including movement of passengers inside every unit.

Guro said they also encouraged all units to have speed limiter control to avoid over speeding made by some PUV drivers. PUV were only limited to 80 Kph in every travel.

“This is a flagship program of the Duterte administration which envisions a restructured, modern, well-managed and environmentally sustainable transport sector where drivers and operators have stable, sufficient and dignified livelihoods while commuters get to their destinations quickly, safely and comfortably,” he pointed out.

He said they issued permit to have a categorized rate allowable by the government for each bus vehicle specially when it was upgraded and modernized like luxury premium vehicle.

“They are allowed to implement 20 percent up on the regular rate provided by LTFRB study and computation. They can also implement a 20 percent discount,” he added. 

RTMI under the Yanson Group of Bus Company (YGBC) introduce4d the newest bus design is a 37-seater or 12 meter bus and feature a two by two seating arrangement, luxury reclining passenger seat, LCD monitor, fast charging USB port, folding table, cup holder, leg rest, middle arm rest, foot pedal, luxury luggage rack with cover, reading lamp, aluminum passenger and luggage compartment, floor cover, sliding window, middle toilet nd middle door, GPS and CCTV.   

Under the new guideline of the PUVMP is not merely a vehicle modernization program. It is a comprehensive system reform that will entirely change the public land transportation industry.

It features a regulatory reform and sets new guidelines for the issuance of franchise for road based public transport services. It devolved the function of route planning to the local government units as they are more versed in the terrain and passenger demand within their respective territorial jurisdiction.

The LGUs are required under the program to submit their own Local Public Transport Plan (LPTRP) as a preequisite for the opening of PUV franchises within their jurisdiction. Route rationalization studies will also be conducted to determine the appropriate mode, quantity and service characteristics of the public transport service in each corridor which will make the routes more responsive to passenger demand and ensure that the hierarchy of roads and modes of transportation are followed.