News
MMDA’s window hours for prov’l buses spark uproar among netizens
MANILA – Netizens and commuters called on the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday to cancel its implementation of the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. window hours for provincial buses, saying it will cause inconvenience to commuters traveling from nearby provinces to Metro Manila for work.
This, after the MMDA confirmed on its Facebook post Thursday that the agency and provincial bus operators agreed to the request for extension, allowing all provincial buses to traverse Edsa and utilizing their respective Metro Manila terminals 24/7 during the Holy Week, specifically until April 17.
It was further extended only until April 19. The resumption of the window hours scheme began on April 20.
“Dahil dyan ‘yung ibang luluwas no choice at magdadala na lang ng sariling sasakyan papuntang Manila. Ang resulta dagdag sasakyan sa NCR tapos mas traffic (Because of that, other travelers will be left with no choice but to drive their own vehicles going to Metro Manila, more vehicles will flock and there will be heavy traffic in the NCR),” said Jason Munsayac in his comment on MMDA’s Facebook post.
Jenny de la Cruz, a resident of Bulacan, appealed to the MMDA to reconsider.
“Pano naman kami araw-araw umuuwi ng Bulacan na sumasakay ng Baliwag transit? 9:00 a.m. pasok sa Manila kailangan sa work na uuwi sa 5 p.m. pabalik ng Bulacan. Isipin nyo ung oras nmin. Pinahihirapan nyo mga tao (How about us who are traveling back to Bulacan daily riding at Baliwag Transit? Our work starts at 9:00 a.m. in Manila and returns to Bulacan at 5:00 p.m. Think about our time. You are making it hard for the people),” she said.
Another netizen, Rhea David Manalang, commented that the agency should have thought about how commuters can go to terminals or highways.
“Hindi po lahat ng lugar ay may 24 hours na byahe ng jeep o tricycle. Mas pinapalala nyo lang lalo expenses nila sa pagluwas para mag-hanapbuhay (Not all places have a 24 hour public jeepney or tricycle operations. You are making them spend more on traveling to Metro Manila to work),” she said.
“Kayo po ay Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Dapat sa ikakaganda at ikabubuti ang mga plano nyo (You are Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. You are supposed to be planning for the better),” commented netizen Miguel Olaer.
In a statement, MMDA chair Romando Artes said provincial buses plying Metro Manila routes are available to commuters at all hours but are required to terminate their routes at the two major land terminals in the region outside the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. window hours.
He clarified that provincial buses are required to drop off the last of their passengers at the North Luzon Express Terminal (NLET) and the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) outside the said window hours based on the existing policies of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
“Provincial buses are not prohibited from operating beyond the said window hours, provided that they do not terminate the trips at their own terminals, and instead use the integrated terminals,” Artes said.
He said provincial bus operators were allowed to use their own terminals at all hours during the Holy Week which was later extended to Tuesday.
He noted that the MMDA’s role was to implement the traffic rules and regulations set by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the LTFRB.
In the last week of March, the MMDA began implementing the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. window hours for provincial buses which barred the use of their own terminals such as those along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.
LTFRB clarification
Meanwhile, the LTFRB clarified in a separate Facebook post on April 20 that it is not a party to the “gentleman’s agreement” between the MMDA and provincial bus operators.
“Sa umpisa pa lang, nais linawin ng LTFRB na hindi kasama ang ahensya sa nabanggit na kasunduan habang ito ay pinag-uusapan, ngunit ipinaalam naman ito noong nagkaroon ang MMDA ng dalawang linggong dry run ng nasabing window hour scheme, at nirerespeto ng aming ahensya ang naturang polisiya (The LTFRB was not party to the agreement while it was being discussed but we made this known when the MMDA held a two-week dry run on the window hour scheme and we respect the policy),” its Facebook post read.
Nonetheless, it reiterated that compliance with the MMDA window scheme does not mean their services is only from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
It added that permits to operate were given to provincial bus operators to transport passengers at any given time when there is passenger demand, and not only at night time.
Beyond the window hours, LTFRB said passengers may go to the following Integrated Terminal Exchange (ITX) where city buses are stationed to ferry passengers:
* PITX – Quezon, Region 4-A, MIMAROPA, and Bicol;
* PITX at Araneta Center Cubao – Region 4-A CALABARZON;
* NLET – Region 1, 2, and CAR;
* NLET and Araneta Center Cubao – Region 3; and
* SRIT – provincial buses from Visayas and Mindanao.
It also lamented reports of stranded passengers at the Dau Terminal waiting for provincial buses to Metro Manila.
The LTFRB said provincial bus operators should be responsible to abide by their agreement with the MMDA and its duties and responsibilities as a common carrier.
“Dahil sa kanilang hindi pagsunod, at lantarang paglabag sa kanilang mga special permit at Certificate of Public Convenience o CPC para mag-operate, tinitiyak ng pamunuan ng LTFRB na sila ay papanagutin sa tahasang paglabag na ito (For their non-compliance, which is a blatant violation of their special permits and certificate of public convenience or CPC to operate, the LTFRB will hold them accountable for this flagrant violation),” the LTFRB statement added. (With a report from Raymond Carl dela Cruz/PNA)
Wilnard Bacelonia
Jay Mark Hernandez
April 21, 2022 at 8:07 AM
Mas okay ‘to para hindi na maging pahirap sa mga commuters. Hindi na maging burden ang service going to work. Galing ng ganitong pagpanukala ng provincial buses. Isa itong patunay na natutugunan ang problema ng mga turista, tao, employees, students, workers, at para hindi na sila mahirapan mag byahe. Galing.
John Christopher Victorio
April 21, 2022 at 8:58 AM
The fact that many of us nearby or what they call the NCR bubble are using these prov. busses for their daily lives to support their family is in dire need of attention. Dapat talaga bigyan ng further action about this matter. Nakakaawa talaga mga kababayan nating kayod ng kayod dito sa Pilipinas matustusan lang ang pangangailangan araw-araw. Their one-way transpo to survive will be a nuisance to them and will affect their family as well.
John Christopher Victorio
April 21, 2022 at 9:05 AM
Very informative and timely news! Yay! Let’s get the Philippines into a covid-free country.
Janice Ian
April 21, 2022 at 11:03 AM
Kailangan naman talaga na magkaroon ng mas maayos na pagbabyahe ang mga pasahero lalo na yung araw araw na sumasabak sa bakbakan ng traffic at habulan ng bus ang mga commuters. Naranasan ko na kasi yan sa Maynila, yung hindi ka makasakay o makasingit man lang dahil talagang punuan,swerte kung makasakay yun nga standing ovation ka buong byahe. Sa byaheng pa probinsya naman mainam din na magkaroon ng scheduling kung iyon ang mainam, lalo na tuwing mahaba haba talaga ang bakasyon at holidays. Kaya mainam at kung alam naman na makakabuti ang nais ng MMDA mas maganda na tayo na rin ay sumunod para sa ikakaayos at safe na pagbyahe.
Imelda Galero
April 21, 2022 at 11:23 AM
Para sa ikakaayos ng byahe sa Manila dapat talaga na magkaroon ng maayos na sistema lalo na dito satin kahit anong oras mabagal ang traffic kaya hassle sa mga commuters na nagtatrabaho. Maayos na sistema trapiko ang kailangan natin.
Julie Anne Guardian
April 21, 2022 at 11:35 AM
Safe , convenient and hassle-free commute is we really need.
Sandy Dalisay
April 21, 2022 at 11:35 AM
This is sad. Another band-aid solution to a longstanding problem, I really hope that the mass transport system can be improved, so that people with private cars will be enticed to use the public transport, hence lessening the cars in EDSA. This would also be a great help in combating climate change bcos less cars in the road and more eco friendly jeepneys and vehicles mean less pollution and greenhouse gases. Whoever wins in the mext election must really prioritize the deteriorating mass transport system of the country.
Vee-Jay Lee
April 24, 2022 at 12:05 PM
The MMDA’s window hours have both negative and good implications. The first is a positive: it will make it easier for all private automobiles to pass via Manila’s main roadways, reducing traffic congestion caused by buses. The disadvantage is that all of the people who will travel from Manila to their province will have an impact on their transportation because it is only available at certain times. For me, I don’t agree since it will be difficult, especially for people from provinces, to take buses at specified times, and it will result in more passengers and provincial buses, which will add to traffic congestion rather than alleviate it.