MMDA begins transferring provincial buses to new Pasay terminal

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday announced that it will begin transferring provincial buses to the new Southwest Interim Provincial Terminal (SWIPT) at the HK Sun Plaza in Pasay City.

In a press statement, MMDA chairman Tim Orbos said 300 provincial buses with end points in Baclaran, Mall of Asia, Mandaluyong and Cubao will initially be deployed to the new SWIPT site.

He said the MMDA will coordinate with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for the updated list of provincial bus companies with valid franchises on the given end points.

Orbos added the new site at HK Sun Plaza is better than the terminal at Coastal Mall, which caters to buses bound for Cavite and Batangas provinces.

“The SWIPT at HK Sun Plaza is definitely better than the current one at the Coastal Mall as there will be no terminal fee to be charged to both provincial and city buses and ventilation and space are more adequate,” Orbos said.

The statement said the MMDA pays a monthly rent of around P1.5 million at Coastal Mall.

Meanwhile, Orbos said city buses plying Baclaran are allowed to pass by HK Sun Plaza to transfer passengers.

Orbos also mentioned that the new SWIPT site boasts of better inter-modality spaces for UV Express units, jeepneys, and multicabs.

The MMDA said the SWIPT at Coastal Mall will remain open until all provincial bus companies have transferred to the new site at HK Sun Plaza.

A soft opening for the new terminal is scheduled to be held on Friday. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KBK, GMA News