TWO more MyBus units would be allowed to operate as soon as a franchise is issued.
Reynaldo Elnar, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB-7) regional director, said they inspected the two buses yesterday and found these to be satisfactory.
“We still have to identify what specific routes are being applied for these additional units,” he told Cebu Daily News.
The two buses were among the 17 buses that reportedly arrived recently. These form part of the 77 bus units that Metro Rapid Transit Services, Inc. (MRTSI) plans to operate in Cebu.
MRTSI is a joint venture of Manila-based Jam Liner, Inc. and Premier Southern Corp., a subsidiary of SM Prime Holdings, Inc.
The LTFRB regional office has issued a franchise for nine bus units for the Talisay City to South Road Properties (SRP)—Mambaling routes.
MRTDSI seeks to serve the developmental route approved by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) from Talisay City to Mactan Cebu International Airport (MCIA).
The new MyBus units will also charge fares ranging from P25 to P75 per commuter depending on distance. The fare will be paid using tap-to-pay SM MyBus cards or SM E Plus Cards.
Elnar said units that travel the MCIA route must have a baggage area.
He also confirmed that the MyBus units will be replaced by the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.
Part of the route to be used for the BRT is currently part of the Mybus developmental route.
“It should only be the BRT that will ply (the routes) but the MRTSI can bid for the BRT project,” Elnar said.