Dear PAO,

I recently purchased a puppy as a birthday present for myself. I am planning to travel to my hometown in the South using bus, and I plan to bring her with me. Am I allowed to bring my puppy on public transportation?

Jayson

Dear Jayson,

Yes, you are allowed to bring your pet with you on the bus for your trip to Bicol. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) issued Memorandum Circular 2020-003 dated Jan. 27, 2020, with the subject “Supplemental Guidelines on the Policy Allowing Pet Animals Inside Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) Provided under Memorandum Circular No. 2019-019.” This amendment provides additional guidelines on allowing pets in PUVs.

In the Circular, the LTFRB resolved to allow pet animals (such as cats and dogs) to be loaded or transported on PUVs, under the following guidelines, aside from the conditions already stipulated in Memorandum Circular 2019-019:

1. If pet animals are to be loaded on mass transport such as PUB, PUJ, UV Express service and Premium Point-to-Point (P2P) Bus service, without having to compromise safety, health issues and convenience of other passengers, the animals must be put in a cage/animal carrier free from foul odor;

2. Passenger-owner must see to it that pets must wear animal diaper to maintain cleanliness and sanitation at all times during the journey;

3. Dog sizes allowed in PUVs must be from the range of small to medium-sized. Those large and giant dogs shall not be allowed. List of dogs with their corresponding size is annexed hereof;

4. Pets placed inside a carrier/cage must be beside the passenger-owner and must pay the corresponding fare in an amount the same as that of the paying passenger-owner per seat occupied.

Thus, you are allowed to bring your pet with you when you visit your hometown using PUVs. PUVs include public utility buses (PUBs), jeepneys (PUJs), UV Express, and premium point-to-point bus services. It is also worth noting that the dog sizes allowed in PUVs must be from the range of small to medium-sized dogs, highlighting that large and giant dogs shall not be permitted.

We hope that we were able to answer your queries. This advice is based solely on the facts you have narrated and our appreciation of the same. Our opinion may vary when other facts are changed or elaborated.

Editor’s note: Dear PAO is a daily column of the Public Attorney’s Office. Questions for Chief Acosta may be sent to [email protected]