By Dhel Nazario
The dry run of the provincial bus ban is now set on August 7 with provincial bus operators pledging their full participation, an official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.
MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia (Facebook)
MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said he is pleased that public transport operators have agreed to participate in the dry run of the provincial bus ban that will start at 4 in the morning.
“I am so happy to say that all of them (provincial bus operators) will participate. They understand that we have yet to see should there be loopholes here,” said Garcia after a consultative meeting with Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the Department of Transportation (DoTr) yesterday.
During the dry run, provincial buses will be banned from traversing along the stretch of EDSA from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. No penalties will be imposed against violators of the ban.
Also, no actual closure of the existing provincial bus terminals along EDSA will happen.
Provincial buses coming from the north may use the Valenzuela Gateway Complex Terminal to load and unload their passengers. Provincial buses coming from the south may use the Sta. Rosa Integrated Terminal in Laguna while those with terminals in Pasay City may use the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange.
The MMDA shall implement “window hours” from 10 pm to 4 am for affected provincial buses. During the window hour period, provincial buses are allowed to traverse EDSA to get to common terminals such as Araneta Center Bus Port in Cubao, Quezon City and BFCT East Terminal in Marikina City and PITX.
The number coding for city operating buses shall also be lifted.
“This means additional 20-percent of city-operating buses’ fleet will be allowed to operate to ensure there are enough number of city buses that will pick up passengers at the interim terminals,” said Garcia.