LTFRB to Strictly Enforce UV Express Pick-Up, Drop-Off of Passengers at Designated Terminals

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Atty. Martin Delgra III has signed Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2019-025 which orders all UV Express Service vehicles to "strictly operate on a point-to-point basis at their designated terminals on the route specified in their CPCs (Certificate of Public Convenience)."

In short, UV Express vehicles can only pick up and drop off passengers at their designated terminals and are prohibited from picking up and dropping off passengers anywhere in between the two terminals.

MC No. 2019-025 amends MC No. 2009-019 which allowed UV Express vehicles to pick-up and drop-off their passengers within a two-kilometer radius from their endpoints as specified in their CPCs "or within the territorial bounds of the commercial/business district specified therein."

"Over time, the Board has observed that because of the provision of two-kilometer radius policy, most UV Expres Services are not actually utilizing their designated terminals, and the rampant practice of loading and unloading of passengers in between their origin and destination," the LTFRB explained in MC No. 2019-025.

Furthermore, the LTFRB cited MC No. 2005-023, the policy that created and classified UV Express as a new public utility vehicle, that it "shall operate on a Terminal to Terminal basis with no loading/unloading in between their origin and destination."

As such, MC No. 2019-025 cancels and abolishes the two-kilometer radius policy and orders all UV Express Service vehicles to strictly operate on a point-to-point basis at their designated terminals on the route specified in their CPCs.

Along with Delgra, MC No. 2019-025 was also signed by LTFRB members Engr. Ronaldo Corpus and retired Gen. Antonio Gardola, Jr.. MC No. 2019-025 will take effect immediately following its publication in a newspaper of general circulation and the filing of three copies with the University of the Philippines Law Center.