LTFRB Board Resolution No. 153-20

August 5, 2020

LTFRB BOARD RESOLUTION NO. 153-20

WHEREAS, in December 2019, the World Health Organization was alerted of several respiratory cases which were later on attribute to what is now known as the "Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19)";

WHEREAS, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Proclamation No. 922 entitled "Declaring a State of Public Health Emergency Throughout the Philippines" on 08 March 2020;

WHEREAS, on 12 March 2020, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) recommended to the President for an Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR), which formed part of the Proclamation by the President to restrict entry to and from Metro Manila;

WHEREAS, as part of the health safety protocols, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has prepared and issued guidelines relative to the observance of social distancing in public transportation;

WHEREAS, on 01 May 2020, the Board issued Memorandum Circular No. 2020-017 setting the Guidelines for Public Transportation for Areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ);

WHEREAS, on 14 May 2020, the Board issued Memorandum Circular No. 2020-019 setting the Guidelines for the Operation of Public Utility Buses (PUB) during the period of GCQ in Metro Manila;

WHEREAS, in view of the reclassification of the National Capital Region (NCR) from Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to General Community Quarantine (GCQ), there is a need to prepare the operation of Point to Point (P2P) Buses in limited capacity under GCQ;

NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the foregoing, the Board hereby sets and adopts the following guidelines in the operation of P2P buses during the period of GCQ:

1. COVERAGE:

All P2P buses with existing and valid Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) or Provisional Authority (PA) or Special Permit (SP) with routes specified under ANNEX "A" shall be allowed to operate under limited capacity.

2. SPECIAL PERMIT TO OPERATE UNDER GCQ

P2P Operators with routes under Annex "A" shall secure a Special Permit to operate under GCQ. Request for issuance of Special Permit may be secured at www.ltfrb.gov.ph. After accomplishing the request form, operator must send the request together with the OR/CR and valid Passenger Accident Insurance Policy via email at [email protected]. The corresponding Special Permit shall be issued and sent to the email used in the submission of the application.

For P2P Operators with expired Special Permit or Provisional Authority, a Motion for Extension of Provisional Authority/Special Permit shall be filed via email address [email protected]. The corresponding Special Permit shall be issued and sent to the email used in the submission of the application.

3. CONDITIONS:

In the operation thereof, operators are required to strictly implement the safety protocols of the IATF-EID, as follows:

a. At the garage/terminal prior to and after operations:

i. For Operators, prior to dispatch, all safety officers must regularly examine the drivers' fitness to work by checking their body temperature and screening/detecting any symptoms of COVID-19. Should a driver show symptoms of COVID-19, he/she shall be prohibited to report to work and shall be subjected to quarantine immediately.

ii. Aside from the routine pre-dispatch inspection, Bus units shall be sprayed with disinfecting agent;

iii. Operators must regularly check the availability of the thermal scanner in each bus units upon dispatch.

b. During operations:

i. Drivers and conductors shall wear masks and gloves at all times.

ii. Commuters are required to wear masks in order to be allowed to board a PUV (No Face Mask, No Ride).

iii. Operators are encouraged to have their units equipped with Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS) facility in collecting the Fare to facilitate contactless payment.

iv. Passengers must undergo thermal scanning prior to boarding. Those with body temperature of 38 degrees centigrade or higher shall not be allowed to board the vehicle. Hence, commuters with fever are not advised to travel.

v. Operators must also provide footbath/foot disinfectant for passengers prior to boarding.

vi. Vehicles shall be disinfected every end of each trip with all surfaces (especially seats, armrests, handles) wiped down with disinfecting agent.

vii. All frequently-touched areas or surfaces of the vehicle such as but not limited to seats, armrests, handles shall be disinfected at least once every three (3) hours if the vehicle is in continuous operation.

viii. Physical distancing must at all times be observed inside the PUVs. Thus, passenger load must not exceed 50% or half of the vehicle's seating capacity (excluding driver and conductor), passengers should be seated one seat apart; no standing passengers shall be allowed.

ix. P2P Operators shall install impermeable barriers to seal off the driver's compartment and between rows of seats that are less than one (1) meter apart if they wish to maximize 50% passenger load.

x. Operators/Drivers shall put a marking on the seats of the PUBs where the passengers must occupy.

xi. All safety officers must regularly examine the drivers' and conductors' fitness to work by checking their body temperature and screening/detecting any symptoms of COVID-19. Should a driver or conductor show symptoms of COVID-19, he/she shall be prohibited to report to work and shall be subjected to quarantine immediately.

xii. Operators/Drivers shall comply with all the IATF-EID resolutions in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to prevent the spread of the virus.

4. FARE:

Fare rate shall remain the same and must be posted conspicuously at the terminal and inside the bus for the information of the passengers.

Failure to comply with any of the conditions set forth herein may warrant the imposition of fines and/or cancellation or suspension of the Certificate of Public Convenience or Provisional Authority or Special Permit of the concerned operator as the Board may determine and as provided under Joint Administrative Circular (JAC) n No. 2014-001.

The guidelines set forth herein are consistent with issuances of the IATF on Emerging Infectious Diseases and the DOTr.

All issuances inconsistent herewith are hereby superseded and amended accordingly.

In view of the declaration of National Public Health Emergency under Proclamation No. 922, dated 8 March 2020, this Memorandum Circular shall be effective starting MAY 30, 2020. Let a certified copy of this Circular be posted in the LTFRB Official website and/or social media account and submitted as well to the Office of the National Administrative Register (UP Law Center) through [email protected]

SO ORDERED.

ADOPTED AND APPROVED THROUGH TELECONFERENCE ON AUGUST 5, 2020.

(SGD.) ATTY. MARTIN B. DELGRA IIIChairman

(SGD.) ENGR. RONALDO F. CORPUSBoard Member

(on Official Leave)P/COL. JOEL C. PERNITO (Ret.)Board Member

Attested by:

(SGD.) COL. RENWICK K. RUTAQUIO (Ret.)OIC-Executive Director

n Note from the Publisher: Written as "Joint Administrative Circular (JAC)" in the original document.