SENIOR citizens in Bacoor City, Cavite, are lauding the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for its effort to implement the law by giving them and other disadvantaged groups priority when boarding buses. The LTFRB have also required buses to reserve seats to seniors, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and pregnant women.
The LTFRB has compelled bus companies and operators to implement Republic Act 967 and Batas Pambansa Bilang 344 to reserve seats in public-utility vehicles for senior citizens, people with disabilities and pregnant women.
Public Relations Officer Leonardo Canta of the Sorrento Senior Citizens Association in Panapaan IV of Bacoor City had sent letters to the LTFRB to implement the law. The LTFRB acted and held a consultative meeting with bus owners.
The meeting resulted in giving priority to the elderly, PWDs and pregnant women in bus terminals. These groups are allowed to ride local buses first.
However, in many instances, conductors of buses allow young and able-bodied passengers to occupy the reserved seats. Consequently, older people, PWDs and pregnant women end up standing at the aisles.
Canta contacted the LTFRB and apprised the government agency of the situation. After several letters, buses operating in the metropolis started implementing the law. Conductors and drivers remind young and able-bodied passengers not to occupy the reserved seats. Now, passengers on city buses know where to sit.
However, provincial buses—particularly in Cavite—continue to ignore the law. Canta wrote to the LTFRB, citing noncompliance of the provincial buses. Canta cited Donato Dinco Jr. of the Cavite Batangas Transport Service, who keeps reminding passengers not to occupy the seats reserved for the elderly.