Uncertainty of bus trips plagues passengers at NLET

Passengers on Tuesday expressed dismay over the uncertainty of bus trips at integrated terminal exchanges (ITX) amid confusion and long waits due to a window hours scheme for provincial buses in Metro Manila.

According to Maki Pulido’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, a limited number of buses is still plying the North Luzon Express Terminal (NLET) in Bocaue, Bulacan.

Erlinda Quipaia, one of the passengers, said there is no definite schedule of bus trips from NLET going to northern Luzon.

“Sana nga mayroon ng [schedule] para hindi na mahirapan,” she said.

The window hours scheme, agreed upon by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and bus companies, states that bus companies in Metro Manila may only use their private terminals within the window hours from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

This has led to passengers waiting for as long as 12 hours at the bus terminals to get rides. The Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has stressed, however, that outside the window hours, passengers may board buses at the integrated terminal exchanges, including NLET. The scheme also does not mean that provincial buses may not travel outside the window hours.

The LTFRB and the MMDA have claimed that provincial bus operators insist on using their own terminals which has led to the long waits.

“Problema kasi sa kanila, ginawa nilang hostage ang kapakanan ng mga pasahero sa kagustuhan nila, sa very willful nila, na gusto nila sa private terminals nila,” LTFRB Executive Director Maria Kristina Cassion earlier said.

“Sana po may maayos silang schedule para makauwi na kami,” said Jason Napuso, another passenger.

(I hope there will be a schedule so that it will not be difficult.)

Cassion said they will hold a hearing on May 10 for some provincial bus operators to explain the non-operation of their buses outside window hours.

Among the bus operators that received show cause orders were Victory Liner, Bataan Transit, Five Star Bus Company, First North Luzon Transit, Maria de Leon and Genesis.

Provincial bus operators earlier said that the court allowed them to use their private terminals while a case against the bus window hours is ongoing.

Last week, the LTFRB clarified that the agreement between the operators and the MMDA states that beyond the window period, provincial buses may use selected ITX areas. — BM, GMA News