Policy, legal basis, and related issuances
- The circular is issued pursuant to DOTC Dept. Order No. 98-1127, which provides additional types of public transport service and modifies provisions of DOTC Dept. Order No. 97-1097.
- DOTC Dept. Order No. 98-1127 serves as the basis for introducing the Public Utility Double Decker Bus service type.
Service type: Public Utility Double Decker Bus
- The circular introduces the type of service titled “Public Utility Double Decker Bus.”
- The circular sets Seating Capacity at 70 and above, excluding the driver and conductor.
- The circular sets Gross Vehicle Weight at 10,000 kgs. and above.
- The circular requires the Body Make to be a double decker coach with: entry and exit doors, emergency exits, an optional separate baggage compartment, and tempered glass windows.
- The circular covers Routes that are fixed route and may be regular, limited stops, or express.
- The circular allows Ventilation to be either ordinary or air-conditioned.
- The circular prescribes Fare rules as based on distance or zonal, consistent with fares as authorized by the LTFRB.
Route, fare, and operational standards
- The circular recognizes route structures that are fixed route with service pattern options of regular, limited stops, or express.
- The circular ties fare computation to distance or zonal schemes.
- The circular directs that the fare must follow fares as authorized by the LTFRB.
Coverage during moratorium and application acceptance
- The circular applies in the meantime and until further notice because of a present moratorium on the acceptance of new applications for franchises to operate public utility vehicles.
- The moratorium is imposed under Memorandum Circular No. 97-009.
- During the moratorium, only petitions for conversion into Public Utility Double Decker Bus are accepted.
- Conversion petitions must involve subsitsting Certificates of Public Convenience for bus service.
Conversion requirements and filing fees
- Petitioners must pay required filing fees for conversion petitions.
- The filing fee is PHP 430.00 for the first five (5) units.
- The filing fee is PHP 35.00 for each additional unit in excess of 5.
- The conversion CPC’s validity is the same as its original expiry date.
Effectivity, modification, and supersession
- The circular takes effect after compliance with the filing requirement: fifteen (15) days after filing three (3) copies with the U.P. Law Center.
- The circular modifies and supersedes inconsistent issuances.
- All issuances, or parts thereof, inconsistent herewith are modified accordingly, superseded/revoked.