Pets are now allowed to travel with their owners on buses and jeepneys — just so long as they are “free from foul odour”.
Today (Saturday, April 27), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has signed a measure permitting domestic animals inside public utility vehicles (PUV).
Previously, under Memorandum Circular 2011-004 — the LTFRB stated that PUV operators “shall not load animals of any kind, except fowls, and in the carriage of such fowls and other animals, the convenience, comfort, and safety of the passengers shall not in any way be sacrificed. Any cargo which emit foul odour shall be covered with canvass or any other suitable material so that it not be offensive to passengers.”
Now, this month’s Memoramdum Circular 2019-019 allows pet animals inside PUVs provided that some conditions are met.
According to the LTFRB, these animals should be inside carriers or cages and should be placed at the designated animal compartment of the PUV if there are other passengers inside the vehicle.
If there are no other passengers, the LTFRB said “pets may be allowed to be carried by the owner as long as they are free from foul odour and that the owner maintains cleanliness and sanitation”.
“Further, the possessor or pet owner shall be responsible for the damage that the pet may cause, including the cleaning and sanitation of the PUV, as may be necessary,” it said.
The LTFRB has emphasised that “safety, convenience, and comfort of the passengers shall not in any way be sacrificed” by any pets.
The new memo is immediately effective.
Rules for pets, in brief:
- The animals should be placed inside carriers or cages at a “designated animal compartment” of the PUV if there are other passengers inside.
- If there are no other passengers, pets maybe allowed to be carried by the owner as long as they are “free from foul odour”
- Safety, convenience and comfort of the passenger shall not be in any way sacrificed
- The owner of the animal shall be responsible for any damage the pet may cause, including cleaning.
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