Gov’t urged to remove illegal buses on EDSA

An official of one of the biggest groups of bus operators yesterday said that 40 percent of the 3,000 buses plying EDSA daily are operating illegally.

Gary Alvin Peñalosa, vice-president and spokesperson of the North East Metro Bus Operators Group (Nembog), said that traffic along EDSA is actually caused by these colorum buses.

"The removal of these illegal buses would also ease traffic on EDSA and enable legitimate bus operators toearn more," he said.

Peñalosa explained that with illegal operators gone, the passenger load of legitimate busowners would increase and this would translate to higher earnings.

Under the illegal system, bus owners without franchises hang on to franchise owners who do not have bus units and garages of their own. The bus owners pay the franchise holder a certain amount per unit daily in exchange for the deal.

Peñalosa aired this complaint to President Arroyo herself when she met with transport group leaders on Tuesday.

"She said she would look into it and tackle the matter with agencies like the LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board)," Peñalosa said.

MMDA Traffic Operations Center Executive Director Angelito Vergel de Dios agreed that this illegal practice is common knowledge in the transport sector but said it’s hard to prove.

Vergel de Dios said that the practice has actually hampered the implementation of MMDA’s traffic schemes.

He noted that those who engage in these illegal practices have been the one to oppose the MMDA’s programs for fear of being exposed.