Makati gov't, LTFRB free bus ride dispute over

MANILA, Philippines - Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay on Friday thanked the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for granting the city government's request to no longer require commuters to purchase a single journey ticket from the Metro Rail Transit before availing of the free shuttle services from the North EDSA terminal to Ayala.

"We are thankful to the LTFRB for acting on our request. We are sure this will be a big relief to our kababayans who take the MRT everyday," Binay said.

Binay added that he has also directed the Makati City Council to amend City Ordinance No. 2014-025 which requires riders in the free shuttle service to present their company identification cards when boarding the shuttle buses.

“I have also asked our City Council to amend the ordinance and waive the ID requirement. These are, after all, express rides to Makati and we would like to open the service to all those who work or have business in Makati, for example job applicants and those who are self-employed,” he said.

Earlier, the city government appealed to the LTFRB to forego the said conditions stated in its Order dated May 16, 2014 for the granting of a special permit.

The free shuttle service, running in its third month, was conceptualized to lessen the burden of Makati-bound commuters caused by worsening traffic conditions resulting from the simultaneous road rehabilitation works along EDSA and other major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.

The six-vehicle convoy, has been regularly providing free transportation to Makati-bound commuters from Monday to Friday, making two trips daily from 6am to about 9am from its picking up point along North Avenue-EDSA to Ayala.