PH’s 1st intermodal terminal opens in Parañaque today

The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) is set to open today for passengers going to and coming from provinces in the south, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said.

Prior to the inauguration of the new terminal, the

LTFRB had directed all public utility vehicles (PUVs) such as buses, jeepneys, and UV Express from provinces southwest of Metro Manila to end their trips at the PITX located on Coastal Road in Parañaque City. “All provincial public utility buses, UV Express service and public utility jitneys originating from provinces southwest of Metro Manila entering via Coastal Road and Manila Cavite Expressway shall end their routes at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) in Coastal Road Parañaque from the date PITX is fully operational,” the Board said in a Memorandum Circular issued last September 13.

The PITX, which was described by the LTFRB as the country’s “first intermodal terminal,” can accommodate up to 200,000 train, jeepney and bus passengers per day.

The terminal, which was built under the government’s "Build, Build, Build" Program, will feature passenger terminal buildings, loading and unloading bays, staging bays, ticketing and baggage handling facilities, as well as park-ride facilities.

In support of the PITX, the LTFRB has ordered all city buses, PUJs, and UV Express units with endpoints in Baclaran and SM Mall of Asia to extend their route to the PITX to facilitate the transfer of passengers.

“The terminal’s southern location will reduce the number of provincial buses from Cavite and Batangas operating along major roads [including] EDSA, Baclaran, and Taft Avenue,” the MC issued in September said.

From PITX, passengers from the south will be connected to other public transport systems such as the upcoming LRT Line 1 South Extension, city buses, jeepneys, taxis, and other PUVs plying within Metro Manila.

The amended route of PUVs already took effect last month to prepare for the start of the terminal’s operation.

NEW BUS TERMINAL – This is the passenger lounge and departure area of the 15.6-billion Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) on Macapagal Blvd. in Parañaque City that is scheduled to be inaugurated today, Monday, by President Duterte. Under the government’s plan to decongest EDSA, all provincial buses and other public transport passing through the Cavite Expressway and Coastal Road will not be allowed into the metropolis and must start and end their trips at the new terminal. (Ali Vicoy)