Provincial buses update: No operations yet on June 22 - PHBus Tickets Ferry Online Booking

Buses GCQ — *Buses queue at the southbound lane of EDSA*

Provincial buses were supposed to resume operations on June 22, 2020 as per the DOTr’s Phase 2 guidelines. However, according to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, “Pag-uusapan po ng IATF kung papayagan na po ang provincial buses na kasama po sa orihinal na plano ng DOTr (The IATF will have to discuss whether or not to allow the operation of provincial buses which was originally planned by the DOTr).”

According to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, provincial routes may resume only in areas under modified general community quarantine or MGCQ. In addition, buses must gain the approval of LGUs which would be included in their specific routes. Without the LGUs’ permission, the buses will not be allowed to run.

On June 18, Roque explained during an online briefing that Metro Manila was expected to be under MGCQ by June 22. But that was not the case as President Duterte extended GCQ until June 30 for Metro Manila. Therefore, the resumption of provincial buses is still up for discussion.

Although provincial buses are not yet allowed on the road, DOTr has deployed modernized public utility vehicles for public transport. DOTr and LTFRB are also working to resume UV Express operations before the end of June.

Roque urges the public to wait patiently for further announcements, “Bantayan po natin at abangan ang anunsiyo ng DOTr kung papayagan nga po ang mga provincial buses sa second phase pagdating po ng 22 June 2020 (Let us monitor and wait for the announcement of the DOTr if provincial buses will be allowed to operate during the second phase starting June 22).”