April 24 ------ Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes assailed some bus operators for allegedly twisting facts and sowing disinformation to make it appear that the agency is to blame amid public anger over the inconvenience brought by the window hours for provincial buses to enter the National Capital Region (NCR).
“Statements are being made to portray us in the MMDA as the villain on this issue. But we had a gentleman’s agreement and our position on this matter was clearly explained to them,” said Artes. Based on the existing policy of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), all provincial buses were prohibited from entering Metro Manila, especially EDSA and other major thoroughfares, as a measure to address monstrous traffic jams.
Provincial buses coming from northern part of Luzon are required to stop, unload and load passengers at the North Luzon Express Terminal (NLET) in Bocaue, Bulacan while those coming from the southern part of Luzon are required to do the same at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) in Parañaque City. But as the traffic flow improved as a result of mobility restrictions due to Covid-19 and the implementation of a busway along EDSA, the provincial bus operators requested the MMDA to allow them to use their terminals inside Metro Manila for the comfort of their passengers. It was the MMDA which negotiated with the LTFRB on behalf of the provincial bus operators to allow the entry of some provincial buses but with the condition that a QR Code system should be implemented to limit the number of buses that would enter NCR and to have a window hour between 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., a time frame when the traffic flow along major thoroughfare is light. A two-week dry run for the window hours was held in March. A special arrangement was also made until April 17 to accommodate more passengers for the Holy Week.
Artes said they also agreed to extend the entry of provincial buses until April 20 and on April 19, a meeting was held between the MMDA and the provincial bus operators to remind them that provincial buses are no longer allowed to enter NCR except those with QR codes. Stranded passengers, however, began to pile up in bus terminals in the provinces and in the terminals in Metro Manila due to the absence of provincial buses as operators said they could only operate from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. But Artes explained that this is not true. “Provincial buses are not prohibited from operating beyond the said window hours, provided that they do not terminate the trips at their own terminals, and instead use the integrated terminals,” said Artes. This, he said, is in accordance with the existing LTFRB policy that all provincial buses must unload and load passengers at the NLET and the PITX.
Artes explained that their mandate is to ensure a good traffic flow in Metro Manila and this is the reason why they observe the LTFRB policy. And the reason why they implemented the window hours is to address the concerns of the commuters to enter Metro Manila, but a time that would not cause monstrous traffic jams inside the NCR.
Source: mb.com.ph
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