Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian held a public consultation with the commuters about a route modification in a bus terminal in Barangay Paso De Blas in the city on Thursday, Feb. 2.
This was after the mayor received some complaints from the commuters regarding the modification of a route of buses in Valenzuela Gateway Complex (VGC) Integrated Terminal, which was announced by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
The city government said that the modification involves Route 32 (VGC Terminal to SM North EDSA via Mindanao Avenue) which commuters usually take to go to the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 1.
It said that the modification, which is supposed to take effect on Monday, Feb. 6, will make the route go straight to Cubao from the terminal without having a stopover at SM North EDSA (Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue). The route change was posted by the VGC in the terminal and on their Facebook page.
Some residents of the city called on the mayor about the changes through social media, saying that it will affect the commuters from going in and out of the city.
Gatchalian went to the terminal on Thursday to listen to the grievances and suggestions of the commuters.
“Nakarating po sa aking tanggapan ang mga hinaing ng ating mga kababayan patungkol sa biglaang anunsyo ng LTFRB ukol sa pag-aalis ng Bus Route #32 na bumabaybay mula VGC Terminal hanggang SM North EDSA (Our office have received complaints from our people regarding the LTFRB's sudden announcement on the cancellation of Bus Route #32 that runs from VGC Terminal to SM North EDSA,” the mayor said in a Facebook post.
“Ito po ay walang malinaw na abiso sa aking tanggapan at walang maayos na public consultation kaya’t akin pong napagdesisyunan na ito ay gawing status quo - pansamantala muna natin itong hindi susundin hanggang sa mabigyan tayo ng linaw ng LTFRB (There was no clear notification to my office and there was no proper public consultation about the changes, so I decided to keep the status quo - for the time being we will not follow it until the LTFRB gives us clarity),” the mayor added.
He also thanked the residents as well as the representatives and bus operator of the VGC Terminal who immediately went to his office to discuss the matter.
“Ako po ay nananawagan sa LTFRB na makipag-usap sa akin at sa ating mga mamamayan. ‘Wag po sanang biglain ang mga ganitong anunsyo dahil mahihirapan po ang mga Valenzuelano at mga iba pang mamamayan. Hindi po madali para sa kanila ito (I am calling on the LTFRB for a discussion with me and our citizens. Please don't make such announcements suddenly as Valenzuelanos and other citizens will suffer. It is not easy for them),” he said.
The mayor added that the city government will continue to coordinate with the LTFRB on the route modification.