A day after implementing a total bus ban capital, Manila’s traffic czar Vice Mayor Isko Moreno reiterated the said policy is only part of a “grand plan” to ease and solve Manila’s daily traffic burden.
Moreno said he expected many complaints from both commuters and bus drivers who affected by Resolution No. 48, the city council passed to prohibit both provincial and city buses without their own terminals from entering the city premises.
On Tuesday, commuters, mostly workers and students from Quezon City, who were not aware of the city resolution signed last week were caught angrily walking along the sidewalks of Mabuhay Rotonda after public utility buses were barred from crossing the boundary between Quezon City and Manila.
But Moreno insisted the ban will continue despite several criticisms. He added the ordinance also aims to help other government agencies detect unlicensed or colorum vehicles.
“Actually, commuters in Mabuhay Rotonda will just have to walk a few meters and they will already see jeepneys that will bring them to Manila. (That’s also the case) in Plaza Dilao, R. Magsaysay, and near Vito Cruz”, Moreno said.
The new ordinance will regulate the entry of city and provincial buses, allowing only those with existing private terminals in Manila. Buses coming from the south by Taft Avenue must turn right to Vito Cruz while those coming from San Juan must turn left to Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard.
“Whereas, due to the ever-worsening traffic congestion being haplessly experienced by the general public in the City of Manila, it is high time and imperative to regulate the use of all roads and streets by all public utility provincial buses traversing the streets of the City of Manila by allowing only the provincial and city buses with existing terminals within the city the use of the same”, the city resolution stated.
Buses from Osmeña Highway should turn right to Quirino Avenue then turn around at Plaza Dilao Rotonda back to Osmeña. Buses coming from north of Manila should turn around from A. Bonifacio left to Aurora Boulevard, left on Dimasalang Street and onward to A. Bonifacio. Loading and unloading zones have been put up along Aurora Boulevard corner Elias Street.
Buses that are allowed to enter the city are not allowed to pick up and unload passengers except at their respective terminals.
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Though he was shocked because he wasn’t immediately informed of the implementation of the bus ban, Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino welcomed and lauded the new policy after witnessing its “positive” results himself.
“Look at Legarda, the flow of traffic is smooth. It was not like that before”, Tolentino said.
But Tolentino instructed MMDA officials to meet with Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada to address any confusion arising from the new measure, which he said should also be “synchronized” with his agency’s overall traffic management plan for the capital.
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Photo: Caladcarens
