Iloilo TTMO seeks LTO, LTFRB tie-up vs. PUV overloading

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Amid mounting complaints of overcrowded rides, the Traffic and Transportation Management Office is proposing joint operations with national transport agencies to address persistent overloading violations among public utility vehicles.

TTMO head Uldarico Garbanzos said the proposal was agreed on during a meeting of the Local Public Transport Route Committee.

He said the plan calls for coordinated inspections of modernized buses to curb recurring violations by drivers and passenger assistance officers.

Garbanzos said TTMO is ready to deploy personnel to augment enforcement efforts by the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, which have authority to penalize overloading.

The “anti-sardinas” policy stems from a directive by former transportation secretary Vince Dizon in July 2025 instructing LTFRB and LTO to enforce passenger capacity rules against PUV overloading.

The directive aligns with existing issuances, including LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2005-023 and Department of Transportation Order No. 2023-022, which cap passenger loads based on vehicle markings and approved configurations.

Garbanzos said a joint operation would strengthen implementation of the “anti-sardinas” policy, which targets overcrowding likened to passengers packed like sardines.

“It is important that if there are joint operations, everyone will be aware and see that enforcement is sincere,” he said.

Garbanzos said joint operations are necessary because TTMO personnel are not deputized by the LTO or LTFRB to enforce national policy and are limited to implementing local laws, particularly Regulation Ordinance No. 2008-393.

The ordinance prohibits motor vehicles on roads or streets from allowing passengers on board in excess of the registered seating capacity, with violators facing a PHP 300 fine.

“Our ordinance does not use the term ‘sardines’ or even ‘overloading.’ It clearly refers to excess passengers, meaning only the approved capacity should be accommodated,” he said.

Garbanzos said monitoring remains a challenge, especially during peak hours.

He said the presence of inspectors or conductors during operations would help prevent overcrowding in modernized buses.

Garbanzos urged drivers and transport cooperatives to act responsibly, saying franchise commitments include providing safe, comfortable and efficient service.

“If there are a lot of passengers on the road waiting, the operations of the transport cooperative are that dispatching should increase during rush hour to accommodate the passengers on the road,” he added.

He also reminded passengers not to insist on boarding beyond capacity limits, noting that modernized buses and traditional jeepneys have passenger thresholds designed to ensure safety.

Under the city’s enhanced Local Public Transport Route Plan, a maximum of 10 passengers may stand inside modernized buses.

Depending on configuration, standing passengers in some units should be limited to those holding the hand grips on the vehicle’s railings.