Permits canceled, suspended
THE FRANCHISE of a bus operator has been canceled while 16 others were suspended for participating in a transport strike on Nov. 15 last year, a regulatory official said yesterday.
The cancellation will result in about 694 buses unable to ply Metro Manila’s streets, Manuel M. Iway, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) board member, said in a telephone interview yesterday.
“The LTFRB canceled the certificate of public convenience held by Philippine Corinthian Liner, and suspended the certificates of 16 others,” Mr. Iway said.
Philippine Corinthian Liner, Inc. is owned by singer Claire de la Fuente.
Bus operators whose franchises were suspended for six months were: Admiral Transport Corp., Angelito Chang, Don Mariano Transit Corp., Irene Alejandro Arabia Boy Express, Jacinto Torres, Luzon Bus Inc., Masel Transit Corp., Mannrose Transit Corp., Margarita Penalosa, Nova Auto Transport Corp., Panda Transit Express, Roval Transit, VIL-5000, Inc., Voyager Express Liner, Inc. and Wendell Lipad.
The LTFRB also suspended the franchise of Sampaguita Auto Transport Corp. but for only a month.
Mr. Iway said the ruling shall take effect immediately unless the Transport secretary reviews the decision, or an appeal has been filed within 30 days of the receipt of the order.
He said the LTFRB does not see further cancellations and suspensions of franchises to ease commuter woes. “We are continuously monitoring public transport to avoid [such scenario],” he added.
The Transportation department in May said there are 12,689 passenger buses operating in Metro Manila. Of this number, 3,732 buses pass through EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Ave.), 1,589 are Metro Manila buses with non-EDSA routes, 4,280 are provincial buses that pass through EDSA, and the remaining 3,088 are provincial buses that do not pass through EDSA. -- KAM