MMDA to put up provincial bus terminals near NLEX, SLEX

The Metro Manila Development Authority is planning to put up two integrated terminals for provincial buses—one for buses coming from the North Luzon Expressway and another for those from the South Luzon Expressway.

“Magkakaroon tayo ng integrated provincial terminals or two entry points. Kung saan yung mga buses papuntang Metro Manila ay hanggang doon na lang sila para hindi na sila sumali sa heavy traffic,” said MMDA chairman Emerson Carlos in an interview on GMA News TV's "News To Go."

Carlos said the agency was planning to put up the integratel terminal for buses coming from SLEX at the Food Terminal Incorporated (FTI) in Taguig.

He said the MMDA was still scouting a place for the integrated terminal for buses coming from NLEX.

“Basta ilalagay po natin sila (provincial buses) dito sa mga outer rims ng Metro Manila, dun sa mga entry points lang sila,” Carlos said.

Carlos cited as example the MMDA’s establishment in 2013 of the Southwest Interim Transport Terminal in Southwest Coastal Mall in Parañaque City, where buses coming to and from the Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEx) are now holding their terminals.

On Friday, the Metro Manila Council (MMC), the policy-making body the MMDA, approved a resolution titled “Rationalizing the Operations of Provincial Buses and its Terminals Along EDSA”, which mandates the eventual removal of bus terminals along EDSA and bans provincial buses from plying the major thoroughfares of Metro Manila.

Carlos said the resolution was not yet executory as the dismantling of these terminals would require emergency powers, which administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is asking from Congress.

He said that under the current set-up, the local governments have the power to grant bus operators their permits to operate bus terminals.

“Kapag may emergency powers, mananaig yun power ng national agencies at hindi na magkakaroon ng legal entanglement just to resolve conflicts between agencies and local governments,” Carlos said.

In an earlier interview, Carlos said Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and Pasay City Mayor Antonio Calixto Jr., who were among the signatories of the MMC resolution, have already agreed to the gradual removal of bus terminals in their respective jurisdiction.

Based on the MMDA records, there are 85 provincial bus companies whose terminals are in Metro Manila, 46 of which are on EDSA especially in Cubao and Balintawak in Quezon City and in Taft Avenue in Pasay City.

The MMDA records show that around 3,300 provincial buses and 12,000 city buses ply EDSA daily.

Duterte, during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) said bus terminal along EDSA must be relocated to “strategic areas outside of the metropolis” to decongest the major thoroughfares. —NB, GMA News