The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced Friday it has approved special permits for 847 passenger buses to manage the massive public exodus expected during the All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days commemoration, known locally as Undas.
LTFRB chairperson Vigor D. Mendoza II said the special permits cover 124 routes in Metro Manila and Luzon, primarily focusing on lines going to and from the National Capital Region’s major transport hubs.
The additional buses aim to accommodate the large number of travelers going to their home provinces to pay respect to their loved ones and Mendoza cited that the LTFRB will continue to monitor the situation as early as next week when Filipinos start their travels.
He also stressed that the approved permits require bus companies to ensure both the roadworthiness of their units and the physical and mental readiness of their drivers and conductors at all times.
Of the 847 approved units, nearly 500 will service Northern Luzon, with 491 units designated for that route. An additional 189 units were approved for Metro Manila to Southern Luzon (Calabarzon and Mimaropa), and 67 units will run from Metro Manila to the Bicol Region.
Longer routes were also approved, with 18 additional buses for the Metro Manila-Eastern Visayas route, 21 for Western Visayas, and five for Mindanao-bound trips from Manila. Furthermore, 56 additional units were approved for inter-Luzon routes that do not cover Metro Manila.
The LTFRB said it is conducting regular and surprise inspections of vehicles and transport personnel to ensure safety. Earlier this week, the agency penalized 22 units from two bus companies for operating illegal terminals.
Mendoza said the agency is following the instruction of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the Department of Transportation’s guidance to prioritize passenger safety.
“This is a whole-of-government approach to ensure safety of all travelers for Undas,” he said.
The Undas exodus is expected to begin this weekend, as some schools have already declared a wellness break starting 27 October.