The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has been ordered by Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas to draft a bill of rights for jeepney, bus, and taxi passengers to protect them against abusive drivers and operators, its press release said.

The directive was issued at yesterday’s 25th anniversary of the LTFRB. Roxas said the bill of rights should be similar to the one being crafted for air passengers, and also include provisions that will safeguard drivers and operators against rude, offensive, and obnoxious passengers.

Roxas also ordered the LTFRB to improve procedures in issuing new land transport service route franchises; gradually convert public utility vehicles to use eco-friendly engines; and play a bigger role in the planned Integrated Transport System project, the press release added.

On the issuance of new route franchises, Roxas said he wants the LTFRB to grant permits through an open, transparent bidding process. LTFRB will play a key role in the gradual conversion of public utility vehicles into environment-friendly means of transport to lessen air pollution in urban centers, he added.

DOTC is studying viable ways to implement the conversion of jeepneys to use more eco-friendly engines. What will immediately affect the new policy are the bus companies, that are more capable of making the conversion, the press release said.

The department is also eyeing the implementation of the integrated transport system project, where LTFRB will amend the routes of provincial buses and limit them to central bus terminals at the outskirts of the metropolis, the press release added.*

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