By Argyll Cyrus Geducos Applications for special permits of 1,072 buses to service the expected exodus of people going home to the provinces during the period of “Undas” (All Saints Day and All Souls Day) have been received by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairperson Atty. Martin Delgra III (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN) In a press briefing in Malacañang, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra said that 436 applications covering 1,072 units were already received as of October 22. Delgra said that buses going to Northern Luzon have the most number of applications – for 660 bus units. This is followed by buses going to South Luzon with 233 units, and Bicol with 119 units. The special permits will be effective from October 30 to November 5, the period with heaviest traffic of people moving out of the cities and back again. Meanwhile, Delgra said that he has now directed the LTFRB regional directors to intensify their monitoring and inspection of terminals and buses. “We have issued an office order to all the regional directors to intensify their monitoring and inspection of terminals, as well as to coordinate with the bus operators,” he said. "We will also be doing inspections, all throughout; we're actually doing it since the start of the week until after “Undas,” which is after November 5, during which time the people would start coming back to the cities," he added. The LTFRB chief also said that the agency would also be coordinating with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in their inspection and monitoring of crowded areas. "We're very conscious to the fact na pag merong matataong lugar, kailangan nating bantayan din (We also have to look out for areas with high volume of people)," he said. "We will work closely, not only with LTO, but also with the enforcement authorities in the areas, and that includes the PNP as well as the AFP," he added.