The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has approved more than 1,200 special permits for buses to accommodate the expected surge in passengers traveling to their home provinces for Undas 2026.

LTFRB Acting Chairman Greg Pua said Tuesday on DZRH's Dos Por Dos that applications for special permits opened as early as the last week of September to allow bus operators to serve routes outside their authorized routes during the holiday period.

The permits will remain valid until Nov. 5, with most approvals covering routes to Northern Luzon and areas in the Visayas and Mindanao that require sea travel.

Pua said the number of permits issued has increased from previous years, when the agency approved only about 800 to 900 permits for Undas.

He added that bus operators would not face penalties if they did not use their approved special permits, noting that the applications allowed companies to prepare for the anticipated increase in passenger demand.

Pua also clarified that bus operators authorized to serve additional routes must follow the regular fares applicable to those routes, with no special rates allowed.

The LTFRB's issuance of special permits is part of its preparations to ensure sufficient public transportation for passengers traveling during the annual observance of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.

During the interview, Pua also discussed the agency's push for bus operators to gradually adopt electric buses, regulations against distracted driving, including drivers vlogging while operating public utility vehicles, and measures to ensure fair wages for bus drivers instead of relying solely on commission-based compensation.

Watch the full exclusive interview below: