Bus firms rejoice as all 3,000 franchise units take to EDSA

The Integrated Metro Bus Operators Association (IMBOA) yesterday lauded the move of Malacañang to lift the "coding" scheme on public utility buses (PUBs) even as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) braces for the expected traffic from some 3,000 franchise buses traveling along EDSA.

IMBOA president Claire de la Fuente said they were elated to learn that President Arroyo granted their request to ask the MMDA to lift the number coding on buses so they would be able to improve their income.

Operators sought for the moratorium, pending a decision by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on their fare hike petition.

This order, however, spells bad news for the thousands of illegal FX taxi units that took to the streets after the MMDA restricted the number of buses plying the metropolis daily.

"Ang vacuum na iniwan namin because of the number coding ay pinuno ng colorum FX. Ngayon babalik na kami,sa isang tabi na sila," De la Fuente said. She claimed that in a period of one year the number of illegal units grew from 50,000 to 90,000.

With more buses out in the streets, the commuting public will have more options, De la Fuente pointed out.

"The FX merely served as a temporary relief. People prefer riding buses because they are cheaper. Sa hirap ng buhay, pipiliin ang bus," she said.

For his part, Fernando said that the President’s directive would help bus operators assess which scheme is more profitable for them.

"Mabuti at masubukan at makita ng ating mga operators kung saan sila kikita. This would be lifted from today hanggang kung kelan uubra," he said.

Sources said the operators have been calling for the lifting of the number coding scheme since November, but the MMDA never gave in until last Tuesday, upon the order of the President .

The MMDA expects all the 3,000 franchise buses to be traveling along EDSA.

To counter the traffic build up, Fernando said they would bank on the Organized Bus Route System for buses to maintain order.

Under the scheme, the MMDA controls the dispatching of PUBs.

Earlier, Director Angelito Vergel de Dios of the MMDA Traffic Operations Center said he was not optimistic about any favorable outcome of the moratorium because of the excess of buses.

During rush hour, he said, the load factor for buses is only 60 percent, meaning buses are not full even during peak passenger hours.

"If all the estimated 3,000 buses are allowed to ply the major thoroughfare, they would eat a portion of the 60 percent loading capacity of buses because they would still cater on the same number of passengers," Vergel de Dios said.

The MMDA Metrobase conducted a speed test last Feb. 19, revealing that buses take an hour and 35 minutes to get from North Avenue in Caloocan to EDSA Rotonda, Pasay during the rush hour. If the number coding is lifted, they estimated travel time to reach two hours.