MMDA to closely watch provincial bus terminals on EDSA over Holy Week exodus

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday said it would closely watch the situation at bus terminals on EDSA in light of the expected exodus of commuters for the Holy Week.

He said the MMDA would prioritize traffic management on EDSA where 46 bus terminals are located.

"Most critical areas na binabantayan natin dyan is 'yung mga bus terminals kasi nga po magdadagsaan 'yung mga kababayan natin dyan papunta sa terminals na yan," said Colonel Bong Nebrija of the MMDA Command Center in an interview in GMA News TV's Balitanghali.

"Pinapakiusapan po namin 'yung mga motorists, mga taxis, 'yung mga PUVs, kung pupwede magbaba at sakay kayo doon sa likod ng mga terminal na ito. Kaya nga po 'yan may access sa likod para po doon tayo magbaba at magsakay," he added.

The MMDA targets to close all provincial bus terminals on EDSA in June to reduce traffic congestion.

The plan is to open integrated bus terminals in Valenzuela and Sta. Rosa, Laguna where passengers from the northern and southern provinces may transfer to city buses bound for different points in Metro Manila.

Nebrija, however, said that MMDA will first conduct a dry-run after the Holy Week to identify and address possible loopholes of the scheme before its actual implementation.

"Hindi naman po namin isusubo sa mga kababayan natin if we think that they will be inconvenienced by this. Kailangan po naming malaman kung saan 'yung magiging kahinaan ng operasyon na ito," he added. —NB, GMA News