Quezon city: Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has ordered the issuance of special permits to add around 300 more public utility buses (PUBs) along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. In an interview at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Tuesday, Lopez said the issuance of additional permits is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s order to provide convenience to commuters.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has already issued 268 special permits to allow PUBs along the Sapang Palay route to pass through NIA Road. Lopez emphasized the necessity of this move to reduce the distance passengers have to walk, especially when transferring to the Metro Rail Transit-3 (MRT-3). This adjustment aims to alleviate the burden on commuters, particularly seniors and persons with disabilities, by ensuring the bus stop is closer to the MRT-3.

The PUBs will traverse Sapang Palay, Commonwealth Avenue, East Avenue, Internal Road, and NIA Road, before looping back. To ensure a smooth flow of traffic, Lopez has instructed the Philippine Coast Guard and the Land Transportation Office to deploy four personnel each to manage traffic along NIA Road. This measure will ensure that each PUB stops to drop off and pick up passengers for only three minutes.

Additionally, PUBs will be prohibited from using their horns to prevent disturbances to residential buildings and offices in the vicinity. The buses will operate on NIA Road during rush hours from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with the possibility of extending the traffic scheme into the following month.