LTFRB gives franchise for buses

By: Michelle Joy L. Padayhag November 27,2015 - 02:06 AM

Three My Bus units can collect fare as they ply their designated routes after the LTFRB okayed their franchises. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)

Three My Bus units can collect fare as they ply their designated routes after the LTFRB okayed their franchises. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)

A franchise was issued this week for an initial batch of three premium buses in time for the launch and blessing of SM Seaside City yesterday.

But since the retail giant had already announced “free rides” for the grand launch from Nov. 27 to 30, shoppers and commuters can hail a ride for free to and from several pickup points this weekend. (See list).

The European-made Volvo buses are now allowed to ply routes and from Talisay City to Cebu City SM Seaside City via South Road Properties (SRP) Mambaling, Natalio Bacalso Avenue, and vice versa.

With this, “Only the three bus units can collect fare”, said Reynaldo Elnar, regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Region 7.
The fare rate earlier approved was P25 for this route.

When the fleet is complete, SM earlier announced it would have 77 MyBus units, including air-conditioned units that reach the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

“As far as I know there are still other units arriving. For example, for the application for the route going to the airport, the bus has different features which require a bigger area for passengers to place their baggage,” said Elnar.

He signed the order on Nov. 24 approving the franchise for three European-made bus units.

Bus stops and pickup points are still being established, which the LTFRB will monitor their compliance with standards especially when the units are deployed, said Elnar.

LTFRB will inspect units as that arrive.
“If they would pass inspection, we would issue a corresponding order,” said Elnar.
The Metro Rapid Transit Service, Inc. applied to operate 11 premium buses under the category of “high quality public transport service (HQPTS) for the route of Talisay to Cebu City SM Seaside City via SRP Mamabling route, N. Bacalso, Miller Hospital and vice versa.

The order said the system was a “first of its kind in Metro Cebu.”

“None of the oppositors are existing HQPTS providers of the same standards and category as those stipulated in the December 17, 2014 Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Memorandum. Neither are they existing operators of the same route, precisely considering that what is involved here is a developmental route,” Elnar said in the order.

The LTFRB central office already approved fare rates last week for four routes ranging from P25 to P75.

Route 1 – Mandaue to Mambaling (12 kilometers) for P25.

Route 2 – Talisay City to Mambaling (10 kilometers) for P25.

Route 3 – Talisay to Mandaue (19 kilometers) for P40
Talisay to Mambaling (11 kilometers) and Mambaling to Mandaue (8 kilometers) for P25.

Route 4 – Talisay to the Mactan Cebu International Airport (24 kilometers) is P75;
Talisay to Mambaling (11 kilometers) is P25
Mambaling to Mandaue (8 kilometers) is P25.

Each bus is required to be 12 meters long with two axles, a floor height of 380 millimeters , and two doors: one at the front and rear.

It should also have other requirements such as a Global Positioning System (GPS), Wi-fi, electronic ticketing system and passenger information display.

 

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LEGAL BATTLE

Ryan Benjamin Yu, president for Cebu Integrated Transport Cooperative (Citrasco), said he was consulting a lawyer to file a motion for reconsideration.

“There is something wrong and we standby on what we have said before. This is a mockery of the whole system,” Yu added.

He said the modern buses would affect the income of existing public utility vehicles since the approved route includes Bacalso Avenue, a gateway or one of the busiest streets in Cebu with public utility vehicles (PUVs).

“The order did not specifically mention where in Talisay City. Does it mean the bus can pick up passengers anywhere in Talisay City?” Yu asked.

The DOTC said it considered the proposed route Talisay City Hall to Mactan – Cebu International Airport (MCIA) strategic and a developmental route.

This is because no public mode of transport plies the route, making it difficult for people to have direct access to the airport or areas along the coastline.

Second, the area traversed by the route is undergoing major expansion to include commercial hubs and tourist spots.

Third, there is a need for public transport in the area, where projected ridership according to the applicant is 118,000 daily passengers for 2015.

Elnar said the approval of this developmental route is within the competence of the DOTC to dece.

He said there was no adequate legal basis to withhold the “modernization” of public land transport with the worry of oppositors that the new buses would worsen traffic and adversely affect other holders of Certificates of Public Convenience (CPC).

SM Prime Holdings Inc., through its subsidiary Southern Premier Inc. is part owner of the Metro Rapid Transit Service.

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TAGS: Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, SM MyBus, SM Seaside City, South Road Properties

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