LTFRB hails CA decision to uphold phaseout of mini buses 15 years and older

Manila traffic (Photo courtesy of PanoBaMagBlog on WordPress)

MANLA — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Tuesday hailed the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) to dismiss transport groups’ petition ruling out that there is no compelling reason to issue a restraining order against the phase out order issued by the board.

“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 a statement.

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

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

To recall, the board promulgated a resolution on Jan. 11, 2013 for the strict observance of the 15-year-age limit on public utility minibus, from date of manufacture of the subject vehicle instead of date of initial registration with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

The program is part of the Department of Transportation and Communications’ (DOTC) ‘Modernization of Public Transport Service’ initiative in phasing out, among others, of public utility mini buses that are more than 15 years old.

Despite the agency’s best intentions, a group of mini bus operators opposed the board’s policy and filed a petition to stop the implementation of an order mandating the phase out of their units that are more than 15 years old.

The board, however, continued to pursue its drive to modernize the country’s transportation sector by introducing policies aimed at curtailing the number of old and decrepit public utility vehicles (PUVs) from plying the national roads.

Ginez stressed that since he took chairmanship of the board, his marching order was to find ways to modernize the country’s transport system to make it safer for the commuters and at par with our neighboring Asian countries.

He further said that it was only through a transport system with modern and roadworthy PUVs plying the national roads that would help prevent pollution and ensure a reliable and safe commute for the riding public.