MANILA -- UV Express units are prohibited from picking up and unloading passengers anywhere outside of their terminals, regulators said Tuesday.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said it ordered all UV Express services in a memorandum circular dated May 16 to "strictly operate on a terminal to terminal."

"UV Express units can only pick up and drop off passengers at their designated terminals and are prohibited from picking up and dropping off passengers anywhere in between the two terminals," the agency said in a statement.

This "is in line with the original policy of UV Express service," it added.

LTFRB said UV Express units violate the originally approved regulation, "prolonging the turn around travel time between destinations and making it very difficult on the part of the enforcers to implement the service," the LTFRB said.

Those who violate the route stated in the franchise of public utility vehicles risk a fine of P5,000 to P9,000, the agency earlier said.