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The improvement of the deteriorating traffic condition in Metro Manila, particularly along the entire stretch of EDSA from Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City to Baclaran in Parañaque, where there are too many vehicles running daily and where the LRT construction will soon start, is a major concern of the government.

Measures to effectively address this grave problem are now being formulated and implemented by agencies and officials tasked to address this problem which has affected and continues to adversely affect several sectors including bus operators themselves, both Metro Manila and provincial, through reduced trips resulting in less income and less commuters transported.

On the major or main provincial routes in Luzon entering Metro Manila, there is no perceived lack of public utility buses; it is a fact that there are several bus operators plying these routes. The presence of several bus operators on major or main provincial routes entering Metro Manila, in particular through EDSA, is a fact documented in the surveys directed by the DOTC last year to determine the number of public utility buses authorized, registered and operational.

Given this situation, the LTFRB has coordinated with the Metro Manila Development Authority and Col. Maganto with respect to their policies, projects and measures geared towards the improvement of traffic in relation to the franchising of public utility vehicles, traffic engineering now being a vital component of franchising at least in Metro Manila, so that government policies, project and measures on traffic will not be jeopardized, with the left hand negating what the right is constructively doing. On matters of grave public concern like the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila, the LTFRB will be a "team player" in the performance of its functions.

Now pending before the Board are about eighty (80) applications for certificates of public convenience to operate bus services from various points in Luzon to Metro Manila thru Epifanio delos Santos involving about 1,025 buses. The authorization of 1,025 additional buses entering Metro Manila to Caloocan City, the Cubao area, Makati City, Pasay City, Parañaque and downtown Manila cannot but affect the policies, projects and on-going measures tasked to rationalize and improve the deteriorating traffic situation in Metro Manila.

PREMISES CONSIDERED, this Board hereby orders that proceedings in all pending applications for certificates of public convenience to operate bus services on Metro Manila but passing through EDSA and provincial routes entering Metro Manila where; (a) the proceedings are still going, (b) or wherein the applicants have not been able to submit proof of possession of units within the 180-day period directed by the Board, BE SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER ORDERS.

The acceptance of new applications for CPC's to operate bus services on the EDSA route or from any point in Metro Manila traversing EDSA and from provincial points to Metro Manila is also suspended until further orders.

Excepted from the coverage of this memorandum circular are (a) applications for extensions of validity for valid and subsisting CPC's; (b) applications for approval of the sales and transfers of valid and subsisting CPC's; (c) applications for CPC's on bus routes in Metro Manila other than EDSA or any portion thereof determined by the DOTC, LTFRB and the MMDA as still deficient in transport services and not traffic congested or adversely affected by on-going traffic rationalization policies, projects and measures.

This Memorandum Circular shall take effect immediately and supersedes previous Circulars inconsistent therewith.

Adopted: 29 Sept. 1995

(SGD.) DANTE M. LANTIN	(SGD.) NABOR GAVIOLA
Chairman	Board Member