AFTER over 6 months of absence due to the quarantine restrictions brought about by the pandemic, 4 Cavite provincial bus routes will resume service Wednesday, September 30, albeit these cannot load and unload at any point except for designated stopovers and last point terminals.

On Saturday, September 26, the Land Transportation and Franchising and Regulatory Board, green-lighted the resumption of operations of the following Cavite routes under strict conditions: Indang to Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX); Tagaytay to PITX; Ternate to PITX; and Mendez to PITX

But not all is bad news, the LTFRB said there are no fare hikes in the revived operations.

The coronavirus task force (IATF) imposed the following restrictions for passengers: Passengers must wear face masks and shields, undergo temperature checks, fill out contact tracing sheets, maintain one-meter physical distance, and no eating and talking while inside the buses.

As per the LTFRB’s Memorandum Circular 2020-051, buses may operate without a special permit. Instead, operators can download a QR code from the regulatory board’s website, print it out, and display it inside their buses units, the regulatory body in an online statement.

The LTFRB also required that passengers to purchase bus tickets at least two days before the intended trip. Passengers must bring the following the documents during the trip: a travel pass from the police in their departure terminal, a valid identification card, and written consent to undergo testing or quarantine should the local government of your destination require it.

Meanwhile in Rosario town here, in compliance with the Department of Transportation’s modernization program of the public transportation system, transport groups here inaugurated the franchise route Cavite City – Tanza. The route debuted with 5 of 19 brand new air-conditioned mini buses on Saturday, September 26.

The new Bee Liner Express Corporation (BLEC) operates the initial 5 units now plying within this province, with the approval of LTFRB-Calabarzon.

The aircon bus would accommodate 13 passengers in a 25-seater unit. It has free Wifi, CCTV, and GPS. Passenger fare is P11 for the first 4 kilometers, addition P2 for every succeeding kilometer.

As always, the minimum health protocols must be observed, like wearing face mask and shields, body temperature checks, and completing contact tracing sheets to be distributed by the bus conductor.

Because of the arrival of the spanking new mini-buses, the colorful but aging baby buses Cavite is known for will gradually vanish from the roads.

“Some of our old baby buses were sold as low as around P80,000 to P100,000 just to dispose gradually, this is because of the modernization,” said Willy Nocon, baby bus operator from Kawit, Cavite. – Rappler.com