An official of the regional office of the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB 11) revealed that the agency is set to increase the seating capacity of the public utility jeepneys (PUJs) in Davao Region to 70 percent once the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) approves its proposal.
The current allowed seating capacity is around 55 percent to 60 percent following the 0.30-meters distance from one passenger to the other.
“Naghulat na lang ta sa approval sa IATF na eventually musaka ang seating capacity sa mga sakyanan. We are waiting for the directive from the national government,” said Nonito “Dondon” Llanos III, regional director of LTFRB.
LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III recently announced his proposal to adjust the maximum seating capacity of all PUJs from 50 percent to 70 percent in other regions following the continued decline of Covid-19 cases in the Philippines.
On November 4, 2021, the IATF has approved the pilot implementation of the 70-percent seating capacity in all PUJs in the National Capital Region (NCR) and neighboring provinces.
Also last month, LTFRB 11 lifted the use of plastic barriers on jeepneys and other public utility vehicles to separate passengers and reminded drivers and operators to keep the limited passenger seating capacity.
Based on Section 2 of the Circular No. 11 series of 2021 posted by LTFRB 11 on physical distancing inside the PUJs, it stated that notwithstanding the non-requirement of the use of barriers in PUVs, the 0.30-meter distance between each passenger as required under LTFRB MC No. 2020-047 inside the PUVs shall continue to be observed.
The maximum seating capacity per public utility vehicle under MC 2020-047, the number of passengers allowed (with a front-seat passenger) for PUJs is 13 from the original seating capacity of 23 and 22.
