Taking a cue from the capital, another city in Metro Manila is planning to impose a bus ban to help ease the traffic situation in the area.
Las Pinas City Mayor Vergel Aguilar said the city council is discussing two proposed city ordinances that will bar passenger buses from entering and passing through the Alabang-Zapote Road as well as prohibiting the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board from giving buses franchises for that route.
Aguilar noted traffic in the city worsened after the City of Manila implemented its modified bus ban since buses coming from Las Pinas cannot enter the nation’s capital. “Since the route became shorter, the buses plying their usual route were able to return quickly to our city proper”, Aguilar explained.
The mayor also recommends that the LTFRB temporarily stop issuing additional franchises to operators of public utility vehicles passing the Alabang-Zapote road since the road cannot handle more vehicles.
Should the city council approve the bus ban, Aguilar plans to set up terminals located near the boundaries of the city near the Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) and near Talaba in Bacoor, Cavite for commuters entering and leaving Las Pinas.
Around 250 buses pass through the Alabang-Zapote Road, the lone gateway into the city.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will implement a traffic rerouting scheme to ease traffic in neghboring cities caused by Manila’s bus ban.
According to MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino, it was decided that provincial and city buses from Quezon City covered by the ban must turn right on Mayon Street, right on M. Cuenco-N. Roxas Streets, right on D. Tuazon Street and then left on Quezon Avenue.
The rerouting scheme in Quezon City is set to be implemented within the week.
The said traffic policy which is just “experimental” according to the Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada has been causing heavy traffic at Manila’s boundary with Quezon City as banned buses must make a U-turn at Welcome Rotonda and head back to Quezon Avenue.
Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay meanwhile said affected cities will have to create their own traffic plan to complement Manila’s new bus policy.
“So we have come to an agreement to closely monitor the situation and to implement our own plans to decongest our areas affected by the new scheme being implemented by the city of Manila”, Binay said.
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Photo: Las Pinas City/P199
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