LTFRB welcomes CA ruling on old mini-bus phase out

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Tuesday lauded the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) to phase out public utility mini-buses that are 15 year old and above.

 

"We hail the decision of CA to uphold the phase out order thereby allowing us to pursue our modernization campaign to provide the public a reliable, safe and convenient transport system," LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez said.

 

In line with its modernization program, the Board has ceased from allowing the extension of the certificates of public convenience issued to mini-buses which are already 15 years old.

 

In a seven-page resolution issued on Monday, the CA's 14th Division ruled that there is no compelling reason for the issuance of a  temporary restraining order (TRO), much less for a writ of preliminary injunction.

 

The CA maintained that the petitioners failed to show that they would suffer grave and irreparable injury from the implementation of the order.

 

"Nagpapasalamat kami sa suporta ng CA sa aming kampanya na maging safe at maayos ang ating mga lansangan sa pamamagitan ng pagpanig sa aming order na huwag ng paluwagin ang haba ng pagpapasada ng mga PUBs na sobra na sa 15 taon ang buhay. Mahalaga sa amin ang kaligtasan ng publiko sa kanilang araw-araw na pagbibiyahe sakay ng mga PUBs patungo sa kanilang mga patutunguhan," Ginez said.

 

 On Jan. 11, 2013, the Board passed a resolution for the strict observance of the 15-year-age limit on public utility minibus, from date of manufacture instead of date of initial registration with the Land Transportation Office.

 

The resolution is part of the modernization program of the Department of Transportation and Communications,  phasing out, among others, of public utility mini-buses that are more than 15 years old.