Pet owners are now allowed to bring their pet animals with them during travels after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has signed a measure permitting domestic animals inside public utility vehicles.
The LTFRB released on Friday a memorandum amending a provision in Memorandum Circular 2011-004 which provided the terms and conditions for transporting animals under certificate of public convenience and providing penalties for violations.
In MC 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 odor shall be covered with canvass or any other suitable material so that it not be offensive to passengers.”
It was amended by Memoramdum Circular 2019-019 dated April 15 which now 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 odor 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 emphasized that “safety, convenience, and comfort of the passengers shall not in any way be sacrificed” in bringing these pet animals.
The memo penned by LTFRB chairman Atty. Martin Delgra III and Board Members Engr. Ronaldo Corpus and retired Gen. Antonio Gardiola shall take effect immediately after publication.
They said that they “considered to revisit the existing policy and harmonize it with the provisions under Republic Act 8485 or the Animal Welfare Act” due to clamor of pet owners and lovers consistently appealing to the agency to allow pet animals inside PUVs. (Alexandria San Juan)