MMDA to enforce EDSA bus ban next month

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is set to enforce next month the ban on provincial buses along EDSA, an official said yesterday.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) amended the routes of buses plying the metropolis.

The MMDA will start implementing Regulation No. 19-002, which prohibits provincial buses on EDSA as soon as the LTFRB’s guidelines on provincial buses become effective, MMDA traffic chief Bong Nebrija said yesterday.

“That’s what we have been waiting for because the LTFRB is in charge of the franchise routes of public utility vehicles. We will implement the policy anytime next month. We are just waiting for the approval of the local government units (LGUs),” Nebrija said. 

The MMDA has urged Metro Manila mayors to revoke or stop the issuance of business permits to provincial bus terminals along EDSA. 

Nebrija said the LGUs would first order the closure of the provincial bus terminals on EDSA before the LTFRB can implement its guidelines.

He said they would meet with the mayors today at the MMDA main office in Makati to discuss the provincial bus ban. 

The LTFRB amended the routes of provincial buses in Metro Manila to ease traffic congestion along the busiest thoroughfare in the metropolis.

In a memorandum circular issued on July 9, the LTFRB said provincial buses coming from the north with terminals along EDSA would end their routes at the interim terminal in Valenzuela City. 

Buses from Southern Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao with terminals along EDSA in Cubao, Quezon City will use the new terminal in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna.

Provincial buses with terminals in Pasay City will end their routes at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange.

The routes of city buses were also amended, extending the end point to the three bus terminals.

Homer Mercado, operator of the HM Transport Inc., said the MMDA and LTFRB should first hold a stakeholders’ meeting before implementing the provincial bus ban.

“They should hold a meeting with the bus drivers and operators as well as the commuters who will be greatly affected by the policy,” he said.

The Supreme Court has yet to resolve the three petitions, which sought to declare null and void the provincial bus ban.

The MMDA said it would enforce the traffic reduction scheme unless the high court declares the policy illegal.