MMDA reviews Parañaque terminal operations, eyes relocation

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is now reviewing the operations of the Southwest Integrated Provincial Terminal (SWIPT) in Parañaque City and is considering its transfer to another location.

MMDA General Manager Tim Orbos said the agency’s management team is currently reviewing and evaluating the status of the SWIPT’s operation.

Orbos also agreed with the observation made by Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, who recently conducted an ocular inspection of the SWIPT and noted several observations of the maintenance of the facilities.

Orbos said the SWIPT was intended to be a temporary public utility vehicle terminal, the operations of which ends with the creation of a permanent terminal by the now defunct Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC). The permanent terminal was supposed to be operational last year.

The operation of the permanent terminal was however delayed with its projected completion moved to 2018.

Based on MMDA records, Orbos cited that from a previous high of more than 1,000 buses using the facility, it has gone to an average of more than 200 buses.

Orbos noted that the heavy traffic buildup along Buendia Avenue was being caused by provincial buses making u-turns in the area.

“We have coordinated this with I-ACT (Inter-Agency Council on Traffic). Secretary (Art) Tugade also directed LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) to look into their previous issuances allowing provincial buses to go into Manila which has caused traffic in the Buendia area,” he said.

Orbos said Tugade has assigned DOTC Undersecretary Anneli Lontoc to review the franchises issued to provincial bus operators and consider their revocation. 

Around 800 provincial buses may have been allowed to enter Manila due to this LTFRB permits, Orbos said. 

Meanwhile, Orbos said the agency would be negotiating with the owners of the adjacent vacant lot near the SWIPT facility where they could transfer its operations.

“We’ll be renting this out. We are looking into its legality, if we can transfer the facility there. We are also looking at our budget. We have to make sure it will be enough. We’ll have to negotiate with the owners and maybe they can shoulder the other requirements,” Orbos added.