LTFRB-7 issues special permit to provincial buses plying the typhoon devastated areas

CEBU, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 7 will issue permits to provincial roll-on/roll-off (RO-RO) buses with routes affected by super typhoon Yolanda.

LTFRB-7 regional director Ahmed Cuizon informed The Freeman that provincial buses from Cebu, Samar, Leyte, Davao and Metro Manila will be issued a special permit for the deployment of additional units.

Cuizon said that this a directive coming from Secretary Joseph Abaya of Department of Transportation and Communications.

The issuance of special permits aims to provide additional transportation to all affected residents to temporarily leave "ground zero" until situation normalizes.

"This would give families and friends of the victims from unaffected provinces to visit them and their relatives who are in distress," Cuizon further said.

It can be recalled that Yolanda, wrecked havoc in Eastern Visayas as well as in Cebu especially in the northern towns and Bantayan Island wherein 90 percent of the houses and infrastructures were flattened.

In issuing said special permits to RO-RO buses with routes from Metro Manila to areas in the Visayas and Mindanao, LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez said this was to enable families and friends to visit victims of the super typhoon.

Once the roads become passable, distressed residents can immediately leave the area to join their families and relatives in the metropolis, Ginez said.— (FREEMAN)