CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago on Friday checked on the readiness of the Robinsons Starmills Transport Terminal here for the resumption of bus operations on a modified basis.
The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board had earlier announced resumption of provincial bus operations in limited areas including from this city to the Araneta Center Cubao Terminal and vice versa starting Sept. 30.
Per LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2020-051, the authorized bus operators for the Pampanga modified route are Victory Liner with 11 units, Philippine Rabbit Bus Line with five, First North Luzon Transit with three, and RJ Express with two.
“Pinapasyalan natin ang terminal dahil ito lang ang approved transportation hub ng city connecting to Manila at gusto natin masiguro ang kaayusan at higit sa lahat ang kaligtasang pangkalusugan ng mga pasaherong bumibiyahe dito,” Santiago said.
The mayor enjoined Robinsons Starmills to strictly enforce infection control protocols at the terminal even as he provided police support for the safety and security of the passengers.
Robinsons Land Corp. regional operations manager Jodee Paulette Pineda-Arroyo assured Santiago of the health protocols in place not only at the terminal but throughout the mall itself.
Coordination with the authorized bus companies, she said, have been undertaken for the ticket booking procedures as provided in the LTFRB guidelines.
“Nakikipag-ugnayan kami sa mga bus company kung paano namin sila matutulungan. Base kasi sa guidelines ng LTFRB, kailangan pre-scheduled yung trip, so kinakausap namin sila paano ito gagawin nang mas madali at mabilis,” Arroyo said.
“Probably we could put a ticketing booth or do an online booking for the passengers. Kasi hindi naman pwedeng kahit na may bus diyan at bakante naman yung seat ay pwede na silang sumakay kasi nga we have to follow the guidelines of LTFRB,” she added.
The schedule of daily bus trips will be posted on the malls’ social media accounts for public reference, she also said.
Santiago, along with city business license and permit division chief Joseph Garcia, also checked on the operations inside the mall to make sure health protocols are being strictly observed. With CSFP-CIO
