The Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has agreed to lift its “No Loading, Unloading” policy for UV Express Service vehicles in Makati City until November.
Mayor Abigail Binay made this announcement Tuesday, saying UV Express vehicles will be allowed to drop off and pick up passengers at designated loading and unloading areas in the Makati Central Business District (CBD) during the three month-period.
“The suspension of the policy will be until this November. It will give us ample time to study the situation on the ground and coordinate with LTFRB and other concerned parties regarding possible assistance and suggestions for implementing the memorandum,” Binay said.
“Let me assure the public, especially workers who commute daily to and from the city, that we have your best interests at heart,” she added.
The city chief executive earlier met with LTFRB officials after her office received numerous complaints from commuters affected by the agency’s Memorandum Circular No. 2019-025 which took effect last May 16, 2019.
The directive prohibited UV Express service vehicles from loading and unloading in between their point of origin and destination, as they can only operate on a point-to-point basis at their designated terminals.
Makati officials from the Law Department and Public Safety Department (PSD) on Monday also met with LTFRB officials and representatives from the Makati Parking Authority (MAPA), Makati Central Estate Association (MACEA), and Ayala Property Management Corporation (APMC).
During the meeting, the parties agreed on the temporary suspension of the directive to make way for a thorough evaluation of its implementation, taking into consideration the convenience of commuting workers.
MACEA and APMC officers also agreed to collaborate with the LTFRB and the city government on identifying official public transportation terminals at the Ayala Center to ease traffic flow in the financial district.
“In the meantime, we urge UV Express drivers plying the roads of Makati to inform their passengers of the temporary suspension of the policy. We expect them to strictly follow traffic rules and regulations and observe proper loading and unloading areas to avoid impeding traffic flow in the CBD,” Mayor Binay said.
