Southern provincial buses get ‘window’ to enter Manila

MANILA, Philippines – Provincial buses from Southern Luzon, Bicol, and the Visayas may now drop off and pick up passengers in their respective bus terminals in Metro Manila, but only during a specific window period.

Between 12 midnight and 4 am, from Monday to Sunday, the 236 provincial public utility buses (PUB) from south of Metro Manila can proceed to their terminals in the national capital region.

Starting August 28, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has been requiring these PUBs to stop at the South Station in Alabang, Muntinlupa City – a move that Albay Governor Joey Salceda questioned before the Supreme Court. 

However, after studying the current situation, the LTFRB came up with Memorandum Circular No. 2014-017 to provide a better travel for passengers from the south, said LTFRB Chairman Winston Ginez.

Ginez said that the circular will be implemented in coordination with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as soon as it is published in national newspapers this week.

The said window period for South Luzon buses would cease upon the construction of the South Integrated Transport Terminal in FTI, Taguig City – part of an “integrated transport system” (ITS) in Metro Manila by virtue of Executive Order No. 67.

Meanwhile, the ITS-Southwest Terminal along Coastal Road, Parañaque City, is currently being bidded out. – Rappler.com