The Southern Star Bus Transit, Inc.’s Panglao trips could still be revived but the company has to secure necessary papers and comply first with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) requirements.

According to the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the bus line which is under Ceres Liner should fulfill requirements and secure a proper franchise from the LTFRB to continue its operations in Panglao.

The possession of a franchise is paramount for the bus firm to prevent questioning of its entry to the town particularly as several drivers and operators of smaller transport groups are opposing Southern Star’s operations in Panglao, said Erwin Patalinghug, LTO Tagbilaran registrar.

Patalinghug previously admitted that he is in favor of Southern Star’s entry into Panglao seeing people in the municipality struggle with their current transportation options which are currently very limited.

Overloading of commuter vehicles is also likely to happen when there are limited transportation options and is dangerous, particularly as some public transports allow passengers to sit on the roof, Patalinghug said.

He also noted that he was the one who received Southern Star’s documents for its Panglao operations and he discovered that the bus firm’s entry was indeed illegal.

However, Patalinghug did not say if authorities will mete out a fine or punishment against the bus company which was not caught conducting operations in Panglao before it was suspended.

Assistant Regional Director Rey Elnar of LTFRB-7 said that the bus company’s Panglao entry was out of line and units that plied the Tagbilaran-Panglao route were considered colorum as Southern Star did not have sufficient documents.

Such violation has a fine of not less than P1 million based on the LTO-LTFRB Joint Administrative Order, he said.

Ceres trips to Panglao were suspended on Thursday, June 16, 2016 as authorities discovered that it did not possess a franchise from the LTFRB that allows it to operate in the said route. (with reports from Allen Doydora)