Davao - Leyte bus routes to open Monday

 

Bachelor Express bus bound to Ormoc,
by Jaiam Sarabillo (file photo)

    Provincial travellers between Davao and Leyte may now plan their trips as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) approves the resumption of the Davao - Tacloban and Davao - Ormoc bus route, which may start on November 23, 2020.

    The re-opening of the two bus routes is in line with LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2020-075, approved on November 19, which noted that the local government units of Davao City, Tacloban, and Ormoc have already allowed buses to operate to their respective cities.

    Previously, the LTFRB Central Office allowed certain operators to resume operations from Santa Rosa, Laguna to Davao, Ormoc, and Tacloban, under MC 2020-051A and B.

    This will be the first inter-regional bus route re-opened by LTFRB not to touch Mega Manila.

    The two routes are operated by Bachelor Express, Inc., a subsidiary of Yanson Group of Bus Companies centered on eastern Mindanao routes. Bachelor will be authorized to run 20 units overall: 10 each for Davao - Tacloban and Davao - Ormoc.

Bachelor Express bound for Tacloban
at Davao terminal, by Justin Jay Albilda
(file photo)

    Passengers who wish to travel between the three cities need to comply with IATF protocols on provincial bus travel, which include travel authorities and medical certificates.

    Passengers also need to book their tickets at least 48 hours, or 2 days before their desired trip schedule, in compliance with LTFRB policy.

    While the LTFRB had given a date when Bachelor may resume operations, the actual date of resumption depends largely on Bachelor, which may need to have equipment and facilities ready for a smooth re-opening of the Davao - Visayas service.