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NO DEFINITE DATE YET FOR CLOSURE OF PROVINCIAL BUS TERMINALS IN EDSA – GARCIA

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is not setting a definite date on the closure of provincial bus terminals along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).

MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia Jr. said the agency is still finalizing the guidelines for the full implementation of the policy.

“Wala pang definite schedule. Hopefully matapos lahat ng guidelines and policy ng DOTr and LTFRB. After that, we can implement it. (There is no definite schedule yet. Hopefully, we can finalize the guidelines and policy with the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board. After that, we can implement it),” Garcia said.

Garcia earlier said that the MMDA intends to remove all 47 bus terminals along EDSA by June.

“MMDA intends to remove all 47 bus terminals along EDSA.”

The MMDA suspended the dry run of the provincial bus ban last May 6, pending its meeting with the DOTr and LTFRB to discuss details for its implementation – particularly the number of point to point and city buses that will be deployed with their fares and routes for affected passengers, reduction of provincial bus franchise routes as well as the extension of city bus routes.

Bus operators were also urged to use the interim bus terminals located in Valenzuela City and the city of Santa Rosa in Laguna province during the dry run, which was conducted from April 22 to May 6.

Strict enforcement of the no loading and unloading policy of provincial buses along Edsa still remains in effect.

Petitions were filed by Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda and by the Ako Bicol Partylist at the Supreme Court to stop the implementation of the provincial bus ban.

The petitioners claimed that the policy is “anti-poor” because only the provincial commuters will be affected and traffic congestion in Edsa are primarily caused by private vehicles and city buses.

“Petitioners claimed that the policy is anti-poor.”

The agency’s policy-making body, the Metro Manila Council, made up of the 17 Metro Manila mayors, approved MMDA Regulation No. 19-002, prohibiting the issuance of business permits to public utility vehicle terminals and operations along Edsa.

Once the business permits are revoked, the actual closure of the terminals can be implemented by the concerned local government units, which have jurisdiction over the terminals.

Data from the MMDA show there are 12,000 passenger buses in Metro Manila, 8,000 of which are provincial buses while 4,000 are city buses. 

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