๐๐จ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ ๐๐ป๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ง๐ฎ๐น๐ธ๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐๐บ๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐
By: Camille R. Bumatay, PIO | Photos By: PIO | Date: April 4, 2022
As the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) continues to uphold the interest of all kaprobinsiaan, a joint Committee Hearing was called by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Committee on Transportation as the lead committee and the Committee on Laws, Rules and Privileges on April 4, 2022 via video conference.
In attendance in the committee hearing were the SP Officials, representative from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) โ Regional Office 1 (RO1); representatives from bus companies with La Union routes including Partas Transportation Co., Inc., Bataan Transit Co., Inc., and Viron Transportation Company; the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) of the City Government of San Fernando; and representatives from the Provincial Legal Office, Provincial Planning and Development Office, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and Provincial Information Office.
The subject matter emanated from the Privilege Speech of SPM Gerard Ostrea stemming from various complaints of local commuters specially those who are in Manila and wanted to come home to La Union. SP Committee on Transportation Chairperson Frank O. Sibuma inquired on why there is still no operation of Bus Companies going to La Union given the adoption of Alert Level 1 in the Province since March 1, 2022 and with Gov. Francisco Emmanuel โPacoyโ R. Ortega III signing Executive Order No. 4, series of 2022 with provisions allowing operations of public utility vehicles.
Partas explained that they still have limited operations and have no available trips to La Union due to the QR Code requirement of LTFRB as stated in LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2022-023. Viron Transit confirmed that they will commence operations on April 8, 2022 upon securing special permit as they have also appealed to the LTFRB to allow them to use their pre-pandemic terminals instead of the required North Luzon Express Terminal as per the same LTFRB Memo. Bataan Trans is still on process of their resumption of limited operations.
While the PGLU has not allowed the operation of bus companies in 2020 due to the high number of cases in the province, it has remained constantly in contact with the LTFRB to request for clear guidelines for the bus operations. In a meeting with Bataan Trans and Partas in 2021, they appealed to open their routes to which the Honorable Governor consequently approved. Requests for the resumption of bus operations were sent by the PGLU to the LTFRB in February up to April 2022 to which the LTFRB-RO1 has been helping the PGLU in lobbying the request to the LTFRB Central Office.
As to mini buses plying within La Union, the Joint Committees appealed to the City Government to allow buses to again traverse and unload in the central business district of the City of San Fernando where the CDRRMO responded that there are initial meetings already for the different unloading zones in preparation of the Holy Week and committed that her office will look into carrying this out after the holidays.
Also tackled during the meeting were the fare charges of bus companies to which the LTFRB clarified that the LTFRB MC No. 2020-017 remains in effect for the period of the community quarantine until no alert level will be declared in the area. Due to this, they also clarified that appeals for fare hike were declined by the LTFRB.
After the discussion, the PGLU, LTFRB-RO1 and bus companies committed to work together for the soonest resumption of bus operations most especially with the upcoming observance of Holy Week. The PGLU is committed to protect the public interest and safety with consideration to the prevailing guidelines and protocols promulgated by the IATF and other governing agencies.
