Special permits for Holy Week

CEBU, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 has started accepting yesterday applications for special permits for buses and jeepneys as part of preparations for the Holy Week two weeks from now.

LTFRB-7 Director Ahmed Cuizon said the special permit costs P170 for three days and P300 for six days.

Under Joint Administrative Order 2014-01, operators of colorum buses shall pay a fine of P1 million for each unit and P50,000 for a jeepney unit, aside from having their units impounded. Hence, a special permit is needed if buses and jeepneys operate outside their routes.

Cuizon, though, said that an operator could only secure special permits for up to 25 percent of his fleet.

"That means that an operator must have a minimum of four vehicles, so that he or she can apply for a special permit for one vehicle, which is equivalent to 25 percent of his or her fleet," he said. In other words, operators with three units or less would not qualify for a special permit.

He also said that special permits for buses is only for  pickup and drop-off while those for jeepneys are only for "pakyaw" or contract arrangement. (FREEMAN)