MANILA — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Friday instructed all regional offices to carry out round-the-clock inspections of provincial buses and other public-utility vehicles (PUVs) in anticipation of the Holy Week travel surge that traditionally begins this weekend.
In Memorandum Circular 2026-012, the agency directed inspection teams to station themselves at major terminals, require drivers to present road-worthiness certificates, and bar units from leaving if defects are found. “Operator compliance is mandatory; non-compliant vehicles will be grounded,” the circular said.
Holy Week is one of the Philippines’ largest annual migrations. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) estimates that more than three million passengers will exit Metro Manila between Palm Sunday and Easter Monday, overwhelming highways, seaports and airports. Last year police recorded 220 road crashes involving buses during the same period, prompting calls for tighter oversight.
“We want families to reach the provinces safely,” LTFRB Chair Teofilo Guadiz III told reporters. He said the order forms part of the DOTr’s recurring “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos” holiday safety program. Drivers must carry updated drug-test results, while operators must show proof of vehicle insurance and functioning GPS devices.
Transport unions broadly welcomed the directive but asked regulators to streamline procedures. “Our units undergo preventive maintenance every 5,000 kilometers; duplicative inspections could choke terminals,” Bus Operators Confederation president Alex Yague said in a phone interview. Consumer group AltMobility PH, however, argued the action was “too little, too late,” urging year-round surprise audits instead of seasonal crackdowns.
The LTFRB said violators face immediate suspension and fines of up to ₱50,000. It also coordinated with the Philippine National Police–Highway Patrol Group to deploy roving patrols equipped with breathalyzers.
Analysts noted the move could reduce accident numbers but warned of potential congestion if many buses fail inspection. “Authorities must balance safety with mobility; any shortage of legal buses might push travelers to unregulated vans,” University of the Philippines transport researcher Robert Siy said.
Looking ahead, the DOTr is drafting a bill that would require mandatory telematics in all PUVs by 2028, allowing regulators to monitor speed and mechanical health in real time. Lawmakers are expected to take up the measure when Congress reconvenes in May, setting the stage for a broader debate on road safety funding.