Operators mislead passengers on bus window hours: MMDA

MANILA – An official of the Metropolitan Manila Growth Authority (MMDA) on Friday denounced misinformation circulated by bus operators on its 10 p.m. to five a.m. window hours scheme, leading to irate commuters sure for the provinces.

In a “Laging Handa” briefing, MMDA Chair Romando Artes stated some bus operators have been telling passengers who went to their personal terminals to attend till 10 p.m., as a substitute of referring them to the 2 land terminals allowed to function exterior the window hours.

“Mayroon naman pong biyahe talaga na nagti-terminate sa NLEX (North Luzon Expressway) at iyon pong mga might QR (fast response)  code ay might biyahe po papunta ng Cubao, sa Araneta Heart Terminal (There are routes terminating at NLEX and those who have QR codes which can be allowed to go to Cubao and the Araneta Heart Terminal),” Artes stated.

Other than provincial buses on the NLEX Terminal (NLET) and the Parañaque Built-in Terminal Change (PITX), he famous that some provincial buses are allowed to terminate exterior the window hours on the Araneta Heart Terminal in Cubao, Quezon Metropolis.

“Ito po iyong might mga particular allow, na might tinatawag na QR codes. Ito po iyong tinatawag nating (These have a particular allow, or QR codes. These are what we name commuter routes),” Artes stated.

The commuter routes are lower than 80 kilometers from the Araneta Heart Terminal and are thus allowed to enter the Nationwide Capital Area (NCR).

“Ang restrictions po nila, dapat po magsasakay at magbababa lamang sila sa (Their restrictions require them to obtain and drop off passengers solely on the) Cubao terminal,” Artes stated.

The window hours scheme, he stated, got here after bus operators requested that they be allowed to make use of their personal terminals even exterior peak hours.

“Sa mga bus operators, sana po huwag nating iliko iyong details. Notably, kay Mr. Alex Yague, marami po siyang binibitiwan na mga salita na mali po, nandoon naman po siya sa lahat ng aming pagpupulong (To bus operators, we hope you gained’t bend details. Notably Mr. Alex Yague, he has stated lots of issues which can be incorrect, and he’s been current in all our conferences),” Artes stated.

“Sana huwag na nilang gamitin itong mismong window hours para lituhin po iyong ating mga kababayan para po magamit nila iyong kanilang terminals na pribado na hindi po allowed beneath LTFRB guidelines (We hope they gained’t use the window hours to confuse the general public to allow them to use their personal terminals that aren’t allowed beneath the foundations of the LTFRB [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board]),” Artes stated.

Yague, the manager director of the Provincial Bus Operators Affiliation of the Philippines, earlier stated provincial buses ought to have been allowed inside NCR after the shift to Alert Stage 1 on March 10.

On the final week of March, the MMDA introduced a two-week dry run for the return of provincial buses to Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) in the course of the stated window hours.

Because the starting of the Covid-19 pandemic two years in the past, bus operators — particularly these with personal terminals alongside Edsa — had been barred from utilizing their personal terminals and are as a substitute required to terminate and start their journeys on the NLET and PITX.

Higher guidelines

Senior Citizen party-list Consultant Rodolfo Ordanes additionally appealed to MMDA to make the foundations extra pleasant to youngsters and the aged.

“Pinahihirapan nila ang seniors at mga bata sa pagbiyahe. Baka makasagap pa ng Covid dahil siksikan sa bus at mga terminal (They’re giving seniors and minors a tough time in commuting. They could contract Covid-19 as a result of the buses and terminals are packed),” he stated in a press release.

He prompt that one good strategy to decongest Edsa is to chop by 50 p.c the tollway charges on elevated roads.

“Decrease toll charges on elevated roads like Skyways will shift many autos off the bottom stage roads, making house for the provincial buses,” he stated. “Give the provincial buses entry to the bus lanes and carousel routes.”

He additionally prompt the creation of alternate north-south routes for automotive drivers to observe so that they needn’t take Edsa.

Senator Joel Villanueva, in the meantime, stated commuters ought to be given first rate and inexpensive options for them to journey in Metro Manila inside enterprise hours. (With a report from Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA)