Legazpi-Manila bus operation resumes

By Mar S. Arguelles

The city government of Legazpi has announced recently the resumption of the Legazpi-Manila-Legazpi bus operation starting on Saturday, May 22 at the LKY Grand Terminal here.

Mayor Noel Rosal said the initial resumption of bus operation in this city was in line with the National Interagency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (NIATF) resolution allowing bus operation to resume its travel in the southern Luzon area.

Rosal in an interview said the city government has allowed the maiden travel on Saturday of the Bragais and the Bron Bus lines to operate the point-to-point (P2P) Legazpi-Manila-Legazpi route.

While three air-conditioned bus lines the Alps, DLTB, and Peñafrancia buses have been given the green light and endorsed by the city government to operate once additional bus lines are required depending on the traveler’s bookings, Rosal said.

The maiden trip on Saturday of the Legazpi-Manila bus departed from the terminal at 6:00 PM while the Manila-Legazpi route left the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) at 8:00 PM.

Rosal said the resumption of bus operation would end the illegal entry of colorum vans and cars transporting residents from Metro Manila and other Covid-1 hot spots areasm which according to local IATF has triggered the spike of Covid-19 cases in Bicol.

Travelers are required to book their trips a day before their scheduled travel by online or walk-in at the Legazpi LKY Grand terminal.

Passengers are required to check in an hour before their scheduled departure and before boarding the bus they should show a negative result of their RT-PCR, saliva test from the Philippine Red Cross, or antigen test results taken three days before their departure.

Rosal said the City Health Office (CTO) would charge travelers P400 each for the RT-PCR test.

Aside from the Covid-19 test, passengers should also show proof that they are authorized person outside of residence (APOR), essential travel purpose, and an identification card.

Joselito Cestina, LKY Grand Terminal manager, in an interview said fare for the non-aircon P2P buses would cost P800 while for air-conditioned buses the fare is from P900 to P1,000.

Buses would be required to strictly follow the 50 percent standard seating capacity and the minimum health protocols such as wearing masks, face shields, maintaining the one-meter distancing.

The city government of Tabaco and the town of Pioduran have also permitted a P2P bus operation in their respective locality.