The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Wednesday announced the reopening of 133 pre-pandemic routes for public utility vehicles (PUV) in Metro Manila and nearby provinces ahead of the opening of classes on Monday, August 22.
In a press conference, LTFRB Chairman Cheloy Garafil said the routes were reopened following the release of Memorandum Circular (MC) 2022-067 or the guidelines for the resumption of operations of non-Edsa city bus routes and MC 2022-068.
It details the resumption of operations of traditional jeepneys, modernized jeepneys, and UV express services.
According to the LTFRB, the reopening of PUV routes will "provide adequate, reliable, efficient, accessible and convenient public land transportation".
Prior operators shall have a preference for the routes identified in the circulars provided they are not currently operating along the retained or modified General Community Quarantine (GCQ) routes, the LTFRB said.
The LTFRB said bus operators interested in plying the routes shall operate under a Special Permit until the release of the final result of the Route Rationalization Study for city buses.
“Tomorrow na effectivity nito [is its effectivity], so bus operators can start applying as early as Thursday," Garafil said.
She added that the LTFRB is expecting that around 11,000 vehicles are expected to operate in the 133 routes.
