Parañaque transport terminal opening soon

The country's first landport, the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), with a capacity for 200,000 passengers daily, starts full commercial operations next month.

One of the flagship projects of the Philippine Government to ease traffic congestion in inner Metro Manila, the 35-year Build-Transfer-Operate concession was awarded to engineering and infrastructure conglomerate Megawide in 2015.

"Preparations for the opening are in full swing,” announced Louie Ferrer, President of Megawide subsidiary MWM Terminals, Inc., developer of the PITX.

“We will be on soft opening this October with full operations scheduled this November. We are working closely with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and affiliated agencies such as the LTFRB to ensure that we are ready.”

The PITX will serve passengers from Cavite and Batangas going to Metro Manila and vice versa, allowing transfers between different modes of land transportation such as buses, taxis, jeepneys and other PUVs.

The terminal building will have three levels. Departure bays for buses, jeepneys, and taxis are situated on the ground floor while Bus Arrival bays are located on the second floor.

The third floor is dedicated to private car parking facilities, AUV bays, and will have the future connection to the LRT-1 extension project.

PITX has a terminal capacity of 200,000 passengers per day with an expected footfall of close to 100,000 passengers daily.

The terminal systems are designed to be passenger-friendly, such as the assured seating system for buses, public information displays in multiple locations, and ample seating throughout the facility.

Automated boarding pass scanners will ensure that passengers can board buses only during their chosen trip schedules.

“Our goal is to deliver hassle-free transfers between multiple modes of transportation in PITX. Many of our technologies are being used for the first time in a bus terminal setting in the country,” Ferrer concluded.