Mariveles SB seeks transition period on implementation of LTFRB order

MARIVELES, Bataan -The Chairman of the Committee on Transportation of the Sangguniang Bayan of Mariveles will be inviting his counterpart in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and in the Balanga Sangguniang Panlungsod for a dialogue to discuss the appeal of Mariveles bus operators seeking for a transition period before the implementation of the phasing out of 15 years old or more passenger buses and mini buses.

Mariveles Sangguniang Bayan Member Angel Sunga, Chairman of the Committee on Transportation, said he wants to a hold dialogue with Provincial Board Member Peping Villapando and Balanga City Councilor Antonio S. Tranate before the visit and inspection here of LTFRB Executive Director Roberto Cabrera III.

The scheduled visit of the LTFRB officer in this town came out in the LTFRB and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) joint meeting last week that discussed the appeal of Mariveles bus operators.

The Authority of the Freeport Area of Bataan (AFAB) and the Sangguniang Bayan of Mariveles have separate appeals seeking for a transition period for bus operators here. Sunga said they and AFAB made the appeal so that the thousands of commuters working in this town particularly inside the Freeport Area of Bataan (FAB) will be continuously serviced.

 “What we are appealing for is a transition period to enable our bus operators to adjust and not disrupt the services to thousands of local commuters”, the councilor further explained.

Thousands of workers inside FAB and students are daily commuting in and out Mariveles town. It will be remembered that Vice Mayor Turing Isip and the municipal councilor immediately acted following the enforcement of the order prohibiting the operation of buses plying the Balanga-Mariveles route, of which franchises were either recalled or not renewed by the LTFRB.

 A 2013 LTFRB order implements the phasing out of 15 years old or more passenger buses and mini buses. Almost half of the about 260 units of bus and mini-bus plying the Balanga-Mariveles route were affected. The two municipal officials had led a series of consultation meetings with the operators and drivers of buses and mini-buses in Mariveles to discuss the situation.