Cebu City – Twenty-one bus lines operating in Central Visayas are at risk of having their franchises cancelled or suspended. This action comes as a response to their persistent non-compliance with orders to avoid loading and unloading passengers on highways.
According to Philippines News Agency, Eduardo Montealto Jr., regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)-Central Visayas, indicated that the LTFRB is prepared to enforce sanctions against bus operators defying Governor Gwendolyn Garcia's directive. This directive mandates that buses should load and unload passengers solely at the Cebu South Bus Terminal. The LTFRB-7 has issued summons to these operators, demanding their response before a scheduled hearing on December 7. Montealto emphasized that the Governor's policy aims to ensure passenger safety and that adherence to the order is crucial.
The move to potentially cancel or suspend the Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) of the bus lines follows Governor Garcia's formal request to the LTFRB. The CPC, or franchise, is a necessary authorization for the operation of public land transportation services. Repeated violations by buses and mini-buses, particularly in southern Cebu towns, have been recorded. These include illegal parking and unauthorized loading and unloading of passengers outside the designated passenger station.
Governor Garcia, in June, presented CCTV footage as evidence of these violations, highlighting the risk and inconvenience they pose to the public. Following threats of franchise cancellation, the bus operators had previously promised compliance with the rules. The urgency of enforcing these regulations was underscored by a recent incident where a Department of Education employee tragically died in an accident involving a bus at the Cebu Bus Terminal.