The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is finalizing its review of all the applications for special permits for passenger buses ahead of the expected influx of travelers for the long Christmas and New Year holidays.
LTFRB chief Vigor Mendoza II said this process aims to ensure that only units, which pass the road worthiness inspections will be given the special permits to ensure passenger comfort and safety at all times.
“It doesn’t matter that there are too many passenger buses that are given special permits rather than too few, since it’s unfortunate for our countrymen to get stranded at bus terminals because there are no buses,” he pointed out.
“We expect more people to travel in the (coming) days because school breaks are about to start and they are going home to the provinces. Others will definitely be going to Manila and other cities for vacations, too, so we must all prepare for this,” Mendoza said.
The LTFRB chief emphasized that the objective to provide more passenger buses should not compromise the safety and comfort of the passengers.
The application for special permits was held from Nov. 10 to 21, covering 1,413 units for 116 routes across the country. The special permits are valid from December 15 to January 16, 2026.
The number of applications for this year is higher compared to past years—1,003 applications in 2024 and 1,174 in 2023.
Mendoza said this reflects the expected increase in the number of passengers and as such, both the LTFRB and transport firms should work together for the common goal of road safety.
He said the LTFRB will closely coordinate with other concerned government agencies to ensure the safety and security of the commuters.
