MANILA—The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has accused board member Aileen Lizada of feeding "false and malicious allegations" about the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).

The agency was referring to an unofficial copy of LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2018-022 (MC 22) released by Lizada to the press Thursday.

Lizada said MC 22 is a falsified document, and that the DOTr has been made to believe that it is a legitimate document.

"DOTr might have been misled to believe that LTFRB MC 2018-022 is a legitimate document. It is not," she told ABS-CBN News.

"It is a falsified document," Lizada added.

According to Lizada, the third page of the document where her "dissenting opinion" appears is legitimate, but that it is part of a different memorandum circular earlier circulated for LTFRB board members' review and signatures.

In a statement posted on the Department of Transportation's Facebook page Friday, the LTFRB denied the existence of a falsified document.

"There was no falsified document," LTFRB said in a statement.

The agency also said it has already reminded Lizada not to release documents to the media.

"Note that BM Lizada was already reminded several times in the past not to release to media documents that are not officially issued to avoid any confusion nor uneccesary speculations. One may have noticed that the unofficial document she prematurely released was unnumbered, and was not even attested by LTFRB Executive Director Sam Jardin," LTFRB said.

The LTFRB also said it has sent a copy of the revised draft to Lizada. The latter chose to maintain her objections.

"While an unofficial document was released without the Board’s knowledge, consent and approval, a revised draft was made and sent to BM Lizada for her opinion," the agency said.

"Upon her review, she expressed to maintain her objection and thus, MC 22, with the last page of the previous draft containing our signatures and her initial objections pasted thereon, was retained."

The agency, likewise said MC 22 was ruled on a majority vote, and it is fully consistent with the policy direction of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.

"Again, the LTFRB wishes to emphasize that MC 22 was ruled on a majority vote, and is fully consistent with the policy direction of Secretary Tugade, and the Department Order 2018-025 to address the operation of the PITX," the LTFRB said.

Lizada declined to comment on the LTFRB's allegations, saying the agency should focus on finding solutions for the concerns of the public.

"Trabaho lang tayo. Madaming concerns ang office na dapat bigyan ng attention," she said in a text message to ABS-CBN News.

(We should work. There are a lot of concerns that the office should focus on.)

"We need to focus our attention in finding solutions sa mga concerns ng riding public."

According to Memorandum Circular 2018-022, the LTFRB will convert the franchises of buses in selected areas in the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna into city operations.

These buses will be allowed not to end their trips at the PITX and will operate at commuter routes in the greater Manila area.

The franchises of buses bound for Metro Manila from the following areas will be converted into city operations:

• Bulacan (north) -- Bocaue, Meycauayan, Marilao, Obando, and San Jose del Monte City
• Cavite (southwest) -- Imus, Bacoor, Dasmariñas, General Trias, Silang, Kawit, Noveleta, and Cavite City
• Laguna (south) -- San Pedro, Biñan, and Sta. Rosa City

Buses beyond these areas, including those from Batangas (Nasugbu, Calatagan and Balayan) and long-haul Cavite routes, are required to terminate their trips at PITX.

Buses from Imus, Bacoor, Dasmariñas, General Trias, Silang, Kawit, Noveleta, and Cavite City are not required to terminate their routes at PITX but shall pass through to pick up and drop off passengers.

City bus units originally ending at Baclaran and at the Southwest Interim Transport Terminal shall also now terminate at the PITX.

Public utility vehicles from Alabang, Las Piñas, and Sucat in Parañaque entering via Coastal Road may opt to pass through or terminate at the PITX subject to further studies by the DOTr and LTFRB.

LTFRB Memo Circular (MC) 2018-022 amends MC 2018-020, which mandated all public utility vehicles from provinces southwest of Metro Manila entering through Coastal Road to end their routes at the PITX.