MMDA mulls trying out provincial bus ban on August 6 or 7

INQUIRER.NET FILE PHOTO

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday said it is considering starting the dry run of the ban on provincial buses on EDSA either on August 6 (Tuesday) or August 7 (Wednesday), according to a report posted on the same day in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The Inquirer based its report on a radio interview of MMDA general manager Jose Arturo “Jojo” Garcia, Jr.

“Magme-meeting lang kami ngayong week na ito ulit kung maayos na ba itong mga ruta, (We will meet again this week to determine if the routes are in order),” the report quoted the official as saying in the interview.

The MMDA will implement the dry run after the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board memorandum circular (MC), which amends provincial bus routes along EDSA, takes effect on August 2. Under MC 2019-031, provincial buses coming from the north and south of Metro Manila which have terminals on EDSA will no longer be allowed to ply the thoroughfare and would have to end their trips at interim terminals in Valenzuela and Santa Rosa, Laguna.

Garcia said the MMDA on August 5, Monday, will request the local governments of Quezon City and Pasay City to cancel the business permits of the provincial bus terminals in their cities which are on EDSA, the Inquirer said.

“While waiting for the order of the [city governments] to cancel the business permits, ida-dry run na lang muna namin kasi may proseso pa ‘yan, (we will start the dry run because the closure of bus terminals still has to undergo processes),” Garcia was quoted by the Inquirer as saying. 

The bus ban is aimed at decongesting traffic along EDSA and shorten the travel time of commuters, the MMDA official said.