Albay solons fight MMDA bus ban

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay – Ako Bicol Party-list Representatives Ronald Ang and Alfredo Garbin filed a resolution at the House of Representatives Friday opposing the banning of provincial buses on EDSA proposed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

The Albay lawmakers filed the resolution after MMDA announced that effective this month, all provincial buses can no longer ply on EDSA, and all provincial bus terminals along the highway will be closed down.

Ang told Manila Bulletin provincial buses from the north will have their terminal in Valenzuela City, and those from the south will have their terminal in Santa Rosa City, Laguna.

Ang said the Metro Manila Council (MMC) approved the proposal of MMDA to stop the issuance of business permits to provincial buses ply

ing on EDSA, without holding public consultations.

He cited 2017 figures from MMDA that 3,300 provincial buses, 12,000 city buses, more than 247,000 private vehicles pass through EDSA every day, causing massive traffic congestion.

The number of provincial buses is too small to justify the approval of the resolution, Ang said. It can also inconvenience commuters who have to take several rides to get to their destination.

Ang suggested that MMC and MMDA come up with a better solution to decongest EDSA traffic by giving priority to commuters using public transportation.

“Sa gayon, mahihikayat yung mga gumagamit ng pribadong sasakyan na gumamit din ng pampublikong sasakyan,” he added.

Rep. Alfredo Garbin said the government have failed to set up an efficient mass transport system in Metro Manila.

“Look at Singapore, in Macao karamihan gumagamit ng mass trasport system. Sa atin, since then, panahon pa ni dating Presidente Cory, ni Ramos, ni Erap, ni GMA, ni PNoy at ngayon, the government have failed to have a mass transport system,” Garbin said.

Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda earlier announced his opposition to the total provincial bus ban.