The Metro Manila Development Authority has recommended the closure of two bus terminals in Quezon City for violating provisions of a memorandum circular of the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board.
In a letter to the LTFRB Board, MMDA general manager and acting chairman Thomas Orbos said the agency is recommending to shut down the operations of Roro Bus Terminal on South Road, Barangay Bagong Lipunan in Crame and Dimple Star Bus Terminal at Main Avenue for failing to comply with the standards set by the Board in operating the facilities.
Orbos said his men found out that the operators of the facilities failed to provide adequate and comfortable benches or seats with backrests for waiting passengers.
The MMDA inspection team also discovered that the bus terminals have no concrete pavement, flooring and roofing that would provide sufficient shade to passengers, Orbos said.
But he said that the closure of the bus terminals will only be temporary until the operators or owners fully comply with the requirements and standards set by the government.
“We would like to reiterate that when we inspect bus terminals, we note not only the compliance to the policy but also their physical condition. We owe it to the public to ensure that these operators provide comfort to our commuters,” Orbos said.
He said the MMDA will file similar cases before the LTFRB in the following days against other bus terminal operators.
Orbos recently signed an agreement with officials of the Quezon City government and LTFRB to get rid of all illegal bus terminals and other structures for public utility vehicles in the city.
The move, according to Orbos, is part of the government's solution to the worsening traffic situation in the National Capital Region.
MMDA records show that there are 85 provincial bus companies situated in Metro Manila. Of the 85 provincial bus companies, 45 firms have terminals on Edsa, particularly in Cubao and Balintawak in Quezon City, and Taft Ave in Pasay City.
Under the agreement, the three parties were authorized to conduct inspection and impose closure order if the structures found operating without necessary permits and violating government policies.
It also authorized the MMDA to impose the Nose-In Nose-Out scheme policy which requires buses on Edsa to get in and out of the terminals in one simple maneuver.
The policy also prohibits buses to load and unload outside their respective terminals. Some private motorists observed that illegal structures of bus and jeepney terminals, illegal operation of tricycles, sidewalk vending, extension of stores, and the loading and unloading of bus passengers to nondesignated areas are the main reason why there is road congestion.
"We emphasize that finding viable measures to address the traffic problem in Metro Manila is a continuous process and may entail drastic changes and deviation from the present norms," said Orbos.
The MMDA chief also appealed to the public for cooperation and understanding for what the government is doing to solve the problem on traffic.
The government earlier introduced new policies to ease traffic, and encourage private motorists to leave their cars at home and use the public transportation instead.
