Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 6) — Transport officials have suspended the dry run for the ban on provincial buses on EDSA on Monday.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced putting the dry run on hold would give time to iron out rules and guidelines for the scheme.
The dry run began on April 21. Provincial buses have been encouraged to drop passengers off at the temporary terminals either in Santa Rosa, Laguna or Valenzuela City. Earlier, Valenzuela Mayor Rex Gatchalian said the interim terminal in Valenzuela would not open for a dry run until May 15.
MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said the dry run will resume once they have discussed more details with the Transportation department and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
“We will continue with the dry run once the guidelines and implementing rules have been ironed out by the three agencies involved,” Garcia said.
He said the ban on picking up and dropping off of passengers oo EDSA stays.
The provincial bus ban has been scheduled for June.
The scheme has been criticized by lawmakers including Albay Representative Joey Salceda and AKO BICOL party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin.
“Ito’y hindi pinagaralan at basta lang ipapasa ‘yung burden at pahirap doon sa mga galing sa probinsya,” Garbin said in April.
[Translation: This was not studied and just places the burden on those who hail from the provinces.]
In an interview in April, Garcia admitted that provincial buses on EDSA only cause 5 percent of traffic on the 23-kilometer stretch.
