New provincial bus terminals to decongest Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) will bid out the building of 3 new terminals for provincial buses that ply routes to and from Metro Manila as part of the implementation of the Malacanang-ordered integrated transport project.

Recently, President Aquino signed Executive Order 67, which provides for the establishment of an integrated and multimodal transport system (ITS) under the public-private partnership (PPP). It aims to dramatically reduce traffic congestion in the capital.

Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas said in a statement on Monday, March 5, that the project involves building provincial bus terminals at 3 main end points – in the north, south and east – that will then limit the buses from using roads within the capital.

According to Roxas, the new bus terminals will be built

• near the North Luzon Expressway, for provincial buses with Northern Luzon routes
• near the South Luzon Expressway, for provincial buses with Southern Luzon routes
• near the Coastal Road/CAVITEX

 
Buses in Metro Manila

He said there are 85 provincial bus terminals located in Metro Manila. More than half, or 46, are located in EDSA.

“On average, these terminals house more than 90 buses,” Roxas said.
 
Citing figures from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Roxas said that of the 13,067 total buses that ply Metro Manila roads, nearly 60% or 7,736 are provincial buses.

Only 5,331 are city-wide buses, 3,718 of which ply EDSA.

Linked to train systems

Apart from the reduced volume of vehicles, Roxas said the ITS will make commuting to the provinces more convenient because these will be linked to other available mass transport systems such as the LRT/MRT and PNR.
 
However, Roxas said once the ITS is implemented, the franchises and routes of public utility buses will be revised, particularly their end points. Provincial buses will only be allowed to go as far as their designated terminals when entering Metro Manila.
 
Roxas said an inter-agency committee is set to be formed to plan the ITS project.  The committee is composed of the DOTC, Metro Manila Development Authority, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Interior and Local Government, National Economic Development Authority, LTFRB, and the Land Transportation Authority.
 
The government will tap the private sector to build the ITS terminal through an open and transparent bidding process. – Rappler.com