EDSA provincial bus ban not happening yet — MMDA

The ban on provincial buses on EDSA, targeted for implementation on June 30, may not push through yet, according to the MMDA. — NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

INCOMPLETE guidelines, ongoing consultations, court issues and other unfinished preparations mean the ban on provincial buses on EDSA, targeted for implementation on June 30, may not push through yet, a report published today in the Philippine Daily Inquirer said.

The report quoted Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) EDSA Special Traffic and Transport Zone head Edison “Bong” Nebrija as saying the agency intends to eventually implement the policy, but is not confident it could roll it out before its self-imposed deadline of end-June.

“I don’t think [we can do it] with only a week left. So right now, we’re all about [not rushing] it,” the report quoted Nebrija.

The official did not give a definite timeline.

The MMDA is still working with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in finalizing the ban’s guidelines, which critics said should have been completed even before the agency held a dry run earlier this year, according to the report.

It quoted the MMDA as saying that the transport fare matrix should also ensure that extra trips arising from the provincial bus ban — passengers entering Metro Manila would have to take city buses or other means of public transport — remain affordable. And the MMDA is still preparing the interim terminals in Valenzuela and Santa Rosa City, Laguna province, where the provincial buses are required to end their trips.

The report added the agency is still conducting public consultations with bus owners, commuters and other affected sectors to strengthen policy direction.

A temporary restraining order from the courts could also delay the MMDA’s provincial bus ban, the report said, noting the Supreme Court earlier this week had ordered the agency to reply within 10 days to a consolidated petition filed by various commuter and transport groups questioning the legality of the planned ban.

The petitions argued that the MMDA had no legal basis for such a policy, which would also revoke the business permits of provincial bus terminals along EDSA.

Nebrija said the agency was coordinating with the Office of the Solicitor General so it could properly reply to the petitions, according to the report.

“There’s really no [court] resolution to stop us,” Nebrija said. “So we’re preparing. We’re using this time to implement [the policy].”