TRANSPORT FIASCO | There is no ban for provincial buses in the capital

TRANSPORT FIASCO | There is no ban for provincial buses in the capital – MMDA

April 21, 2022 , 04:47 PM

By Clarist Zablan

(April 21, 2022) – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday said provincial buses are not prohibited from operating outside of the “window hour” period at night, after transport operators announced the suspension of provincial operations during daytime.

MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has already granted provincial bus operators’ appeals to let them operate at EDSA from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m

For the rest of the day, all provincial buses must end their routes at the North Luzon Express Terminal (NLET), located in the Philippine Arena compound in Bulacan, or at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) in Parañaque City based on the LTFRB’s rules, Artes said.

“Artes emphasized that provincial buses are not prohibited from operating beyond the said window hours, provided that they do not terminate the trips at their own terminals, and instead use the integrated terminals in accordance with the existing LTFRB policy,” MMDA said in a statement, quoting Artes.

Early this week, several bus companies, like First North Luzon Transit, Victory Liner and Five Star announced suspension of bus trips during daytime starting Wednesday because the government only allowed them to enter Metro Manila from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

But LTFRB executive director Maria Kristina Cassion said it was the MMDA that had an agreement with the bus operators on the window hours.

“Noong nakipagpulong po tayo sa MMDA, hineads up nila tayo na meron silang naging agreement kasama ang provincial bus operators association na makakapasok sila sa mga private terminals nila sa tinatawag na window hour,” Cassion said on CignalTV’s One PH channel’s program “One Balita Pilipinas.”

Many passengers were stranded at the provincial bus terminals in Manila and Pampanga due to confusion on the implementation of the window hour period for provincial buses operating in the capital.

The LTFRB started deploying free rides from NLET to Metro Manila terminals amid the issue.

Cassion said they are planning to issue a show cause orders to bus operators, as none of the buses plying northern Luzon routes operated during daytime. The operators could face fines or suspension for suspending operations, she said.

“We should not tolerate what happened in Pampanga,” Cassion said. “At kailangan panagutin natin yung mga provincial bus operators na nagbigay perwisyo sa ating mga mananakay.”

Transport groups and advocates, in a joint statement on Wednesday, slammed MMDA, LTFRB and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) over the issue, warning that the new policy is placing heavy burden on commuters and worsening traffic congestion.

They also called out the agencies for “failing to work together to ease the plight of commuters.” The DOTr told them the LTFRB was only following the MMDA’s policy on the issue, while the MMDA said the LTFRB was in charge of the matter, they said.

“We call on the MMDA, DOTr, and LTFRB to get their acts together, revoke the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. window policy, and allow provincial buses to ply their routes at the soonest possible time,” the statement read.

(MM)

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