The Board has issued Memorandum Circular 2003-028, effective 04 December 2003 suspending the acceptance of applications/petitions for the issuance of new Certificates of Public Convenience (CPCs). Said moratorium was issued in order to conduct public land transport studies and design programmatic approaches to rationalize land transport services, nationwide.

Among the approaches considered was the Voluntary Conversion of Tourist Chartered Service franchises, which was implemented under Memorandum Circular 2005-015 and supplemented under Memorandum Circular 2005-20. Per item No. 5 of MC 2005-015, the number of tourist bus units vacated by the conversion program shall be opened for new application to qualified applicants, subject to favorable endorsement of the Department of Tourism. As such, there were one hundred ninety six (196) units availed by seven (7) Tourist Bus operators.

In view of the above, the Board hereby declares the lifting of moratorium on the acceptance of applications/petitions for new franchises of Tourist Chartered Services (brand-new and air-conditioned buses, A/C mini buses and 25-seater, coaster-type A/C PUJs only) to cover the one hundred ninety six (196) converted units or an aggregate total of 7,840 seating capacity, on a "First Come, First Served" basis and subject to standard LTFRB evaluation process.

This Memorandum Circular supersedes any and all issuances inconsistent herewith, and takes effect (15) days following the filing of three (3) copies hereof with the UP Law Center, pursuant to Presidential Memorandum Circular No. 11, dated 09 October 1992.

SO ORDERED.

Adopted: 29 Sept. 2005

                                   

MARIA ELENA H. BAUTISTA
Chairperson
MA. ELLEN DIRIGE-CABATU	GERARDO A. PINILI
Board Member	Board Member