STARTING end-April, all provincial buses will be equipped with global positioning system (GPS) devices as mandated by the government to minimize road risk.
This allows the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to raise its capabilities to monitor buses to ensure the safety of the riding public.
“The LTFRB’s main aim is to protect the safety of the riding public by regulating the speed limit of buses traversing our national roads and highways,” LTFRB Chairman Winston M. Ginez said on Friday.
“With the use of the latest and innovative technology, we believe we can modernize our transport system and provide the commuters with reliable, convenient and safe transportation services,” he added.
Ginez said the GPS device can help the LTFRB check if a bus is within the speed limit, and on its proper route based on the approved franchise.
As mandated by the regulator, all provincial bus operators are required to install and register GPS devices on their units on or before April 30. Buses plying routes within Metro Manila must install the device on their units starting May 1. Inter-regional buses not entering Metro Manila are required to install GPS devices on their units by September 1, and intra-regional buses on January 1 next year.
Four GPS devices have conformed with the technical specifications, and passed the testing procedures jointly conducted by the LTFRB, the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Department of Science and Technology.
The LTFRB has already informed bus transport associations, such as the Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines and Southern Luzon Bus Operators Association, of the initial list of up-to-spec GPS devices.
Only the said devices and additional brands that will pass the testing procedures can be registered with the LTFRB and installed on bus units, which can be done only by the GPS device provider under the supervision of the LTFRB’s personnel.
Bus operators who fail to install GPS devices will be penalized P5,000 per unit. After the 30-day grace period from the end of the compliance period, an additional penalty of P1,000 per unit per month will be imposed.
The LTFRB will also penalize operators or drivers found tampering with the devices: P5,000 for the first offense; P10,000 for the second offense; and P15,000 and the suspension of their certificate of public convenience for a month for the third and subsequent offenses.
1 comment
This GPS technolgy shoud also be used to provide better information to travelers on when the bus is coming. Even in large bus terminals like Lucena, Quezon, the representatives of bus companies are unable to say when the next vehicle is coming. In many countries, the info is readily available also with smartphone applications. It will be good business for the first companies to provide that service, because they will have a competitive edge over rivals. Move up to the modern world, Philippines !