Bus firms apply for special permits ahead of All Saints' Day exodus

More than 150 bus operators have applied with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for special permits to ply popular routes for the yearly exodus by Filipinos paying respects to their dearly departed in the provinces. But the LTFRB said not all the applications may be granted as the bus firms will be inspected and their safety records evaluated, radio dzBB's Manny Vargas reported. The report quoted LTFRB Technical Evaluation Division OIC Lilia Coloma as saying some 153 operators had applied for special permits for 604 buses in the last two days alone. Special permits will allow buses to temporarily ply routes outside their regular franchises, to accommodate the large number of Filipinos expected to travel to the provinces. For this year, the dzBB report said the LTFRB's special permits will take effect from October 30 to November 6. This relatively longer period is meant to accommodate the Filipinos returning to Metro Manila from the provinces, including students returning from their semestral break. For its part, the Philippine Coast Guard said it would go on heightened alert as the exodus begins to peak. The Coast Guard said it would ensure passengers' security while thwarting colorums from plying sea routes. — LBG, GMA News