MMDA to deploy 20 buses in ‘Tanggal Bulok’ areas

“These buses will be taking the routes of the jeepneys.” (Photo: MMDA/Facebook)

MANILA — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be deploying 20 city buses starting Tuesday to provide transportation to commuters that might get stranded by the ongoing “Tanggal Bulok – Tanggal Usok” (TBTU) campaign to rid the roads of dilapidated public utility vehicles (PUVs).

The buses will be using jeepney routes, depending on passenger demand, according to MMDA Assistant General Manager for Planning Jojo Garcia.

“Ang mga bus na eto ay pwedeng dumaan sa mga ruta na pwedeng palitan ang mga jeepneys (These buses will be taking the routes of the jeepneys),” Garcia said in a press conference Monday.

The MMDA official further said the buses will not be allowed to pass through Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).

Some of the routes being considered are Quiapo, Commonwealth, Novaliches, Baclaran, Guadalupe in Makati City, and Masinag in Antipolo City, according to the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (I-ACT).

The deployment will be coordinated with local government units (LGUs), which will designate bus stops.

The buses will be charging PHP10 for the non-airconditioned and PHP12 for the air-conditioned units.

I-ACT has so far impounded 50 vehicles and issued traffic citation tickets to 244 smoke belchers to undergo the motor vehicle inspection system (MVIS) being conducted by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) under the TBTU campaign.

The council has expanded its TBTU operations to nearby provinces of Metro Manila, namely, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, and Rizal.

Under the campaign, the council will inspect the PUVs’ body (appearance), engine, lights, brakes, tires, horn, battery, and smoke emission to check their roadworthiness. Failure to pass the roadworthiness test will result in the suspension of the franchises of PUVs.