A week after implementing a citywide bus ban, Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada on Monday said passenger city buses can once again enter the country’s capital but under certain conditions.
Estrada and his traffic czar Vice Mayor Isko Moreno both insisted bus operators will only be allowed to field up to 10 buses per company provided that these public utility vehicles will only be permitted to pick up and drop off passengers in designated parts of the city.
Buses that are southbound coming from Quezon City may only load and unload passengers in front of University of Santo Tomas on Espana, along Multi-modal Terminal in Lawton, and in front of Rizal Park.
Meanwhile, eastbound buses coming from Vito Cruz are only allowed to drop off their passengers along Quirino corner Taft Avenue, in front of Rizal Park, inside Park and Ride terminal, and in front of UST in Espana.
Moreno explained that the drivers of authorized buses will be issued a piece of laminated paper containing control numbers and their vehicles’ plate and body numbers. Legitimate buses will also receive a sticker from the management of the Park ‘N Ride in Lawton that will serve as a bus terminal.
“The city government’s aim really is reduce the volume of buses plying the roads of Manila by 70 percent. As of now, we are finalizing the list of authorized passenger buses that will be given permits to enter our beloved city”, Moreno said.
As of Monday afternoon, some 200 buses got their permits on the first day of the modified bus ban policy.
Manila Police District traffic director Chief Inspector Olivia Sagaysay said buses given the laminated cards will be allowed to enter the city. She added the modified ban is a “starting point of sorts”, as they will soon go after colorum jeeps and tricycles.
Last week, buses were totally banned from entering the city and even those with legitimate franchises dropped off their passengers at the mouth of the city’s boundary with Quezon City after the city council unanimously agreed to implement Resolution No. 48.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said the city ban should not supersede the franchise given to bus operators.
The resolution caused confusion among commuters in Mabuhay Rotonda and other portions of the city as they had to walk a few meters and to take jeepney ride into Manila.
“What we’re going to do next is to utilize lanes and regulate the entry of buses. For the meantime, they have to follow regulations. We can always amend this resolution as long as they promise to cooperate”, Moreno said.
