LTFRB cancels, suspends franchises of bus firms for wildcat strike

MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) yesterday cancelled the franchise of the Philippine Corinthian Liner Corp. and suspended the franchises of 16 other bus operators for joining the bus strike in November last year that left thousands of commuters stranded.

In separate resolutions, the LTFRB denied the appeal of Philippine Corinthian to reverse its earlier ruling canceling the franchise of its 129 units and the suspension of the franchises of 16 other operators.

LTFRB chairman Jaime Jacob and board members Manuel Iway and Samuel Julius Garcia signed the resolutions.

The LTFRB also ordered its law enforcement unit, the Land Transportation Office and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to “apprehend and impound the said vehicles if found operating.”

The bus companies suspended for six months were Admiral Transport Corp. (54 units), Angelito Chang (10 units), Don Mariano Transit Corp. (57 units), Irene Alejandro Arabia Boy Express (34 units), Jacinto Torres (29 units), Luzon Bus Inc. (36 units), Ma-sel Transit Corp. (15 units), Mannrose Transit Corp. (30 units), Margarita Penalosa (18 units), Nova Auto Transport Corp. (76 units), Panda Transit Express (10 units), Roval Transit Corp. (68 units), Vil5000 Inc. (75 units), Voyager Express Liner Inc. (11 units) and Wendell Lippad (22 units).

Sampaguita Auto Transport Corp. (20 units) was meted a one-month suspension.

The LTFRB board said Philippine Corinthian, whose owners include singer Claire de la Fuente, “raised no substantial issues that would warrant the reversal of the assailed resolution.”

“The vehement denial by the respondent of their participation on the said transport strike cannot be given any merit in view of the MMDA and LTFRB monitoring team reports which categorically indicated a substantial decrease of buses plying along Commonwealth Avenue and EDSA,” the resolution stated.

 Iway said the other bus operators claimed that their units were covered by the number-coding scheme, their vehicles developed mechanical trouble or their drivers did not report for work. Some also claimed the right to peaceful assembly.

He said the board is still resolving the cases of 25 more bus operators who reportedly participated in the same bus strike.

“The state shall not hesitate in revoking this (franchise) privilege to those who show that they are no longer worthy to hold it,” he said. 

De la Fuente’s lawyer Harry Roque said they will appeal the decision to Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas, insisting that the LTFRB decision is “factually and legally infirmed.”

MMDA Traffic Discipline Office head Yves Gonzalez welcomed the LTFRB ruling, saying “less buses on the road means less volume.”

MMDA said there are 3,800 buses with franchises to ply EDSA but a study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency showed that EDSA could only accommodate up to 1,600 buses.  – With Mike Frialde