Quezon City court won’t stop GPS for buses

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) has denied a petition by provincial bus operators to stop the mandatory installation of global positioning system (GPS) devices in buses.

In a decision dated May 20, Judge Marilou Runes-Tamang of Branch 98 said the Nagkaisang Samahan ng mg Nangangasiwa ng Panlalawigang Bus sa Pilipinas, formerly Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines (PBOAP), failed to present evidence that would support their petition for the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction.

Last month, she issued a 20-day temporary restraining order while she heard the case against two circulars issued by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), which filed a motion for reconsideration.

Tamang said the bus operators’ group failed to present sufficient evidence to support its allegations against the LTFRB’s GPS project.

Tamang conducted an ocular inspection of the infrastructure for the GPS installation system on May 17 in a bid to “properly guide the court” on the issue.

During the ocular inspection, the group objected to the LTFRB’s project over the cost of the GPS devices. It also said the project singled out bus operators and the harsh penalties for violators.

The group also stood firm that there is no need to have the GPS project since there is already the speed limiter bill pending before the Congress.

The LTFRB maintained that the installation of GPS devices would minimize road accidents as commuters can monitor if drivers follow the speed limit for buses.

LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez said with the GPS devices, bus operators “can determine if their drivers are following their authorized routes.”

A bus firm can be fined P5,000 per unit without a GPS device and is fined another P1,000 for each succeeding month without the device.

According to Ginez, a bus firm must shell out P1,000 to P1,500 per month per bus for a subscription that includes the device, a data plan, maintenance and after-sales service.