MMDA postpones transfer of terminal for provincial buses

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority postponed the schedule of transfer of the temporary terminal for southwest provincial buses at Uniwide Coastal Mall to a site along Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City, a report on Unang Balita on Thursday said.

The MMDA said it is still awaiting the list of new routes to be released by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), GMA News' Mav Gonzales reported.

The government agency also kept in mind the commuters heading for Cavite and Batangas this Holy Week who have been used to boarding buses at the Uniwide Coastal Mall terminal.

MMDA chairperson Tim Orbos said the transfer will be implemented after Easter Sunday instead.

Na-postpone ang paglilipat ng temporary terminal para sa provincial buses sa Macapagal Blvd. LIVE report sa @UnangHirit! pic.twitter.com/1Fv2KeedfC

— Mav Gonzales (@mavgonzales) March 29, 2017

The new terminal along Macapagal Boulevard was supposed to be opened on April 4.

"Tapos na po talaga kaya lang po minabuti na namin na palampasin ang Holy Week para hindi makagulo sa ating mga kababayan from Cavite and Batangas," Orbos said in an interview on Unang Balita.

"Okay na ho 'yan, konting ayos pa, pero kung hinabol ho sana talaga natin 'yung April 4, talaga namang kaya nating matapos 'yon. Kasi po lupa na ho 'yan ng MMDA at gobyerno, so malaking tulong sa atin 'yan. Medyo magsasakripisyo lang ho tayo ng isang buwan dahil papasok na ho tayo sa Abril," Orbos added.

The MMDA said more than P1 million will be saved by the agency each month once the new terminal is used.

There are 17 loading slots and 11 unloading slots for provincial buses at the new terminal.

It also has six loading bays for city buses.

Orbos said there is an information campaign with bus operators regarding the planned transfer.

"Hindi ho sabay-sabay na lilipat agad 'yan. Ang gagawin natin, siguro out of several destinations, siguro mga one-fourth muna for the whole month until such time na masanay 'yung iba, tapos lilipat na," he said.

"Out of 1,000 buses, siguro mauuna muna mga 200-plus para masanay ang mga tao," Orbos added.

North terminal

Orbos confirmed that the Department of Transportation is mulling a terminal for provincial buses coming from the north. 

"Meron na pong pinag-iisipan ang Department of Transportation at minamadali na rin po 'yan para ho makatulong sa congestion diyan sa Cubao," he said.

Orbos added that the decision of the Quezon City government to stop issuing permits to new bus terminals is another reason to put up a terminal for provincial buses in the north.

The MMDA chair also said the ultimate goal is to have no bus terminal along EDSA.

"Kung mangyayari 'yan, mga 10,000 buses ang mawawala sa EDSA. Pero it will take time, two or three years. But malaking tulong 'pag masimulan natin na diyan sa north terminal," he said.

Meanwhile, at least 1,100 provincial buses have already been granted special permits for the Holy Week break, the LTFRB said.

The said permits were issued to accommodate the influx of passengers headed to provinces.

The LTFRB is also studying the possibility of lifting the moratorium on granting new franchises for provincial buses, its chairman Atty. Martin Delgra said.

Delgra also said more passengers are choosing to ride buses instead of ships and airplanes for trips to provinces. This may result in road improvement projects, and increase in the number of Ro-Ro vessels and facilities. —KG, GMA News