The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority on Monday stood by its decision to ban provincial buses from plying along EDSA in a bid to reduce traffic along one of the metro’s busiest thoroughfares.
At a hearing conducted by the House of Representatives’ Committee on Transportation, MMDA EDSA traffic chief Bong Nebrija said the intention of the ban is not to really remove the buses from EDSA but to crackdown 47 provincial bus terminal that have been blamed for the congestion.
“We believe that the terminal is a magnet for all other activities that create the congestion on EDSA,” he said.
This developed as Representatives Lito Atienza and Johnny Pimentel supported the proposed provincial bus ban along EDSA, urging its critics to “give it a chance.”
“Now that government is doing something about it, I’d like to caution my colleagues in government. Let’s take it slow. We would like to consider the plight of our provincial commuters. We would like to understand the points of the sponsor of this measure. But on the other hand, we must also go slow,” said Atienza, senior deputy minority leader.
“The government is trying to find a solution. Let’s give it a chance,” Atienza said.
Pimentel said he believed that the MMDA has conducted feasibility studies to back up its proposal.
“We are always barking at the government agencies on why we fail to come up with a solution to traffic. It has caused [a] great effect on the economy and other problems,” Pimentel said.
“I believe, not the provincial buses, but the 47 bus terminals that are causing traffic along EDSA,” he added.
Nebrija said the MMDA would want to get rid of provincial bus terminals along EDSA it has been the source of traffic congestion as the passengers who get off in bus terminals along the major thoroughfare either take taxis or wait for their their own cars upon arrival.
He added that throngs of bus riders get in the way of vehicular traffic during the Holiday season.
“If we’re talking about commuter safety and protection, I think you will agree with me that EDSA is not the right place for the provincial buses,” Nebrija said.