By Azer N. Parrocha
MANILA, (PNA) — Operations of all provincial bus companies with roll-on-roll-off (RORO) routes to areas where super typhoon “Ruby” is expected to make landfall over the weekend have been suspended.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said that the order prevents operators from dispatching and operating all their authorized units along their authorized routes.
LTFRB issued the order following the suspension of port operations in some affected areas in the country particularly Southern Luzon, Eastern Visayas and Mindanao.
PAGASA said ‘Ruby’ is expected to make landfall over Eastern Samar-Northern Samar area and it will be associated with strong winds, storm surge of four to five meters high and heavy to intense rainfall.
It said “Ruby” will bring rough to very rough sea conditions over the seaboards of Northern Luzon, eastern seaboard of Central and Southern Luzon, seaboards of Visayas and over northern and eastern seaboards of Mindanao.
LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez said in a statement that the suspension of operations was only to ensure public safety.
“In ensuring the safety of passengers, drivers, conductors and to avoid inconvenience in the event they get stranded in various ports due to typhoon ‘Ruby’, the Board decided to suspend the operations of all Provincial Bus Operators with RORO Routes effective immediately,” Ginez said.
The LTFRB official further said that the Board is currently collaborating with Land Transport Office (LTO) enforcers to monitor and ensure that bus operators are complying with the order.
“It is better to be prepared and not drifted from the RORO bus operators in order to avoid any accidents during bad weather,” he added. (PNA)