CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The opening of new bus routes in Mindanao will further reopen economic activities in the island’s regions, the chief of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-in Region 10 (LTFRB-10) said Wednesday.
Among the newest opened to the riding public was the Cagayan de Oro-Cotabato City route that passes through some parts of Bukidnon, Lanao del Sur, Cotabato, and Maguindanao, said Aminoden Guro, LTFRB-10 director.
“The opening of the new route and launching of PUBs will also contribute to the gradual recovery of the economy in the region,” Guro said, adding that it also gives inter-regional access to public commuters in Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
LTFRB-10 granted a provisional authority supported with a special permit to Rural Transit Mindanao Inc. (RTMI) for 15 bus units to ply the new route, passing through Talakag town in Bukidnon, Wao town in Lanao del Sur, the municipalities of Banisilan, Alamada, Libungan, Pigcawayan in Cotabato; and Sultan Kudarat in Maguindanao.
Guro said the LTFRB-10 can grant RTMI another permit for additional bus units that will ply the same route if there is a need, such as an increase in population.
“They can still file a petition for additional units if there is an increase in demand from the riding public,” he said.
Celer Estologa, Yanson Group of Bus Companies (YGBC) legal and media relations manager, said this new route will not only benefit the riding public "but would also boost the economic activities and tourism of the local government unit”.
Estologa said the new route is three hours shorter than the usual Cagayan de Oro-Cotabato City via the Kabacan trail, which takes five to six hours of travel time.
“We look forward to the coming years of providing reliable and safe transportation to the riding public and our continuing commitment to improve the quality of life of our workforce as well as of the community,” he said. (PNA)
