Resumption of buses took effect today, May 28, based on the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTBRB) Office Circular No. 2020-13 issued on May 21, 2020 by Regional Director Armand B. Dioso.

The circular orders “opening the routes in Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental and Davao del Sur under the authority of a special permit for the operation of public transportation under General Community Quarantine”.

Full operation of the bus routes allows passengers to travel as far as Monkayo, Laak, New Bataan, Maragusan in Davao de Oro, Mati City in Davao Oriental and Kapalong, Davao del Norte, with stopovers in designated city and municipal terminals.

For Boston route the bus terminal in charge is still waiting for the advice.

Buses coming from Mati City are only allowed to enter the terminals of Panabo City & Tagum City until further notice.

The following terminals of Panabo, Tagum, Carmen, Maco, Mabini, Pantukan, Banaybanay, Lupon and Manikling are allowed terminals for the stop over of the buses travelling to Mati City and vice-versa.

Panabo City in Davao del Norte has been designed as the point of origin for the inter-provincial routes in the three provinces.

LTFRB mandates all public utility buses to be equipped with thermo gun/thermal scanner for temperature check, foot baths and alcohol inside the bus.

Per the guidelines of the general community quarantine (GCQ), buses are only allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity. Passengers are also required to present their quarantine or working pass with company identification card before they board the bus.

Public utility buses should also strictly abide by the requisites and guidelines set by the LTFRB as stated in the Office Circular No. 2020-013A including the use of special permits and must strictly follow the “one bus per route per day”.

As part of the measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, new guidelines and policies released by the province will be implemented which include the strengthening of health screening measures at all provincial borders entry points and terminals in the province of Davao Oriental.

This is to ensure that all individuals coming in from areas with local transmission and confirmed cases of COVID-19 are properly screened.

Under Executive Order. 25 released on May 27 but will take effect only starting June 1, included in the policy is the strict implementation of the “No Embarkation Form, No Entry Policy”.

All passengers coming in the province must fill out the said form. The forms are downloadable in all media platforms and will also be made available at all provincial border entry points, terminal and LGU screening points.

Passengers are allowed to board the PUBs only at terminals. Operators have also been informed that buses are not allowed to drop off and pick up passengers along the highway and that operation hours is set to run from 9:00 in the morning to 4:00 in the afternoon from Monday to Friday only.

All public utility vehicles should also utilize a manifest form. All passengers including the driver and conductor shall be reflected in the manifest form. (CIO MATI)