LTFRB tells Makati: No permit, no shuttle service

MANILA, Philippines – The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is standing by its earlier call to require a special permit from the City of Makati so it can continue operating its free shuttle service from North Avenue in Quezon City to Ayala Avenue in Makati.

Late March, the Makati local government began offering a free shuttle service daily, following a glitch and an accident that stalled Metro Rail Transit Line 3 operations. The MRT 3 has several stations in Makati.

In a letter, LTFRB board member Engineer Ronald Corpus asked Makati Mayor Junjun Binay to submit necessary requirements so a special permit could be issued to the city’s fleet of buses and coasters.

But the Makati local government insisted it had the power to provide transportation services, based on the Local Government Code.

“Ang apela lang namin sana hindi ipatigil ng LTFRB ang aming libreng sakay habang pinag-aaralan namin ang mga hinihingi nilang requirements. Mas mabuting magtulungan tayong mga nasa gobyerno para guminhawa kahit konti ang mga pasahero ng MRT,” said Binay in an earlier statement.

(We appeal to the LTFRB not to stop the free shuttle rides while we study their requirements. It’s better if we help each other in government to help MRT passengers.)

“The directive of the Board for the City of Makati to file an application/petition for a special permit is but an exercise of our regulatory authority,” said LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez, promising that the LTFRB would immediately act on Makati’s special permit as soon as documents are given to them.

Makati also argued they were not required to obtain a Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC). The LTFRB, however, clarified that Makati would not need to obtain CPCs.

The LTFRB explained that since the shuttle service was a “public utility or common carrier service,” they are under the regulatory powers of the LTFRB. – Rappler.com