Manila's Isko Moreno says sorry for bus ban, tells commuters to leave 30 minutes early

Manila Vice Mayor Francisco Domagoso (Isko Moreno) on Wednesday apologized to commuters for the inconvenience caused by the city's ban on buses with no terminal in the city.

 

Domagoso, the city's traffic czar, advised commuters outside Manila to take the bus 30 minutes in advance to allow for the extra time they may need to walk or get an extra ride once they reach the city limits.

 

"Ipagpasensya muna nila ang naapektuhan. Ang pakiusap, dagdagan ng 30 minuto ang gising, maaga, para hindi ma-late," he said in an interview on dzBB radio.

 

He also said some commuters may benefit from walking.

 

"Kayo rin makikinabang sa maluwag na trapiko sa Manila," he said.

 

The city government on Tuesday started implementing a ban on buses that do not have terminals inside the city.

 

According to MMDA Chairman Atty. Francis Tolentino, the provincial bus ban was based on a 1964 ordinance that was recently amended. 

 

"Ang nagpatupad po ng ordinansa ay Maynila. Ito ay isyu between the City of Manila and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). Kasi sinasabi ng ibang bus, meron silang prankisa," Tolentino said in an interview with GMA News' Kara David on Wednesday. 

 

Tolentino said the MMDA had already met with Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and Domagoso on Tuesday. "Maganda naman po 'yung layunin nila, na ultimately maalis 'yung mga colorum, 'yung mga walang terminal sa Lungsod ng Maynila, at mapaluwag 'yung trapiko sa Lungsod ng Maynila," he said.

 

While the MMDA is helping implement the ban, Tolentino said it is a legal and local issue between the Manila City government and the LTFRB. 

 

"As to the legalities concerned, the ordinance circa 1964, as well as the LTFRB franchises issued, it's not for the MMDA to determine as to the legal weight of both sides" he said.

 

Tolentino also said that it was too early to tell whether the ban was effective in improving the traffic situation in the city. "Wala pa hong isang araw at kalahati. Tingnan po natin. Medyo maluwag sa Taft Avenue pero tingnan ho natin. Kailangan din nating ikonsider 'yung kapakanan ng mga mananakay bukod po sa daloy ng trapiko," he said.

 

Commuters, bus operators

 

While the ban has so far resulted in smoother traffic in some major roads in the city, it earned complaints from commuters who had to walk or take an extra ride from the city limits. 

 

"Imbes na makapasok kami agad sa trabaho nagdadalawang sakay pa kami. Lilipat kami ng ibang sasakyan, kaya hindi po ako sang-ayon sa ginawa nila," one commuter said in a report on News to Go on Wednesday.

 

Bus operators who do not have terminals in the city also complained the move may mean more losses for them.

 

"Mahirap sir eh. Kasi pamula SM Fairview halos wala na kaming nakukuhang pasahero," a bus driver on the SM Fairview-Baclaran-Taft route told GMA News' Jay Sabale in the report. 

 

A separate report by dzBB's Allan Gatus said bus operators whose units operate in Fairview, Quiapo and Baclaran are not happy with the ban as they stand to lose financially.

 

The operators said they are already coping with the LTFRB's policy that they should replace units that are at least 15 years old with new buses.

 

Some commuters were also irate at having to walk or take another ride.

 

"Ay sobrang hirap. Pahirap si Erap," one female commuter said.

 

Domagoso said the city government accepts the criticisms from affected commuters and bus operators, but asked for their understanding.

 

"Tinatanggap namin ang batikos nila. Buong kababaang loob tayo humihingi ng pasensya. (Pero) kailangan maunawaan ng kababayan natin (na) kami bilang halal sa Manila may obligasyon," he said.

 

Meanwhile, Domagoso said the city government is still studying whether to allow electric buses in the city.

 

But he maintained even electric buses will have to have terminals in the city.

 

"Definite kami. All those buses with terminals in city will be allowed to go inside whether provincial or city," he said. —Carmela G. Lapeña/KG, GMA News