“There’s always the possibility,” MMDA General Manager Frisco San Juan Jr. told CNN Philippines. “There may be some adjustments if necessary and we are closely monitoring it along with the LTFRB.”
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 22)— Provincial buses may be allowed more time on EDSA if other agencies find it necessary, a Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) official said on Friday.
The new policy bans access to provincial bus terminals — most of which are along EDSA — before 10 p.m. and after 5 a.m. Outside those hours, buses can only drop passengers off at integrated terminals.
Provincial bus operators were left confused by the policy, prompting passengers to scramble for rides within the 10 p.m.-5 a.m. window to exit Metro Manila.
Meanwhile, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes accused some bus operators of deliberately causing confusion, and trying to sow discord between MMDA and LTFRB.
“Ang problem po mukhang sinadya ng bus operators na ipitin ang mga pasahero noong Miyerkules na pinaghintay,” he said in a media briefing. “Tila pinagsasabong po kami, MMDA at LTFRB. Walang kalituhan dapat diyan. Sa aming palagay sinadya ito para magalit ang tao sa LTFRB, sa MMDA para majustify ang pagbubukas muli ng terminals sa EDSA at sa Manila at magamit po nila ito nang buong araw even outside the window hours.”
[Translation: The problem is the bus operators are doing this on purpose by making the commuters suffer on Wednesday. They are trying to make the MMDA and LTFRB fight. There should be no confusion here. We think they are doing this on purpose so the public will be enraged against LTFRB and MMDA. Then they will use this to justify to reopen the terminals outside the window hours.]
He called out bus operators, in particular Alex Yague, executive director ng Nagkakaisang Samahan ng Nangangasiwa ng Panlalawigang Bus sa Pilipinas Inc., not to twist facts at the expense of commuters.
The LTFRB is set to summon provincial bus operators that did not deploy units to Metro Manila for allegedly violating permit to operate terms.
The MMDA began on March 24 the two-week dry run on the return of provincial buses on EDSA.
