Solon urges MMDA, LTFRB to reconsider provincial bus window hours  

Following the confusion over the implemented window hours for provincial buses, a House leader is urging both the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to reconsider the scheme’s implementation. 

Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda

In a statement issued Friday, House Ways and Means Committee Chair Rep. Joey Salceda said the two agencies should drop what he called “unclear restrictions” imposed on provincial buses plying EDSA. 

He particularly cited the policy which restricts the use of their private bus terminals to between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Outside of these window hours, provincial buses will be limited to designated terminals such as the Araneta Bus Port, Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), Valenzuela Gateway Complex, and North Luzon Express Terminal (NLET). 

The lawmaker slammed the current provincial bus window scheme as “inequitable, unfair, ineffective, and just completely useless.”  

The lawmaker emphasized that the MMDA and LTFRB should do better on policies related to transport

“After imposing these policies, these two agencies are pointing fingers at each other about who really imposed the restrictions. They are also saying that these policies are not really hard restrictions,” he said. “If you have to roll back every pronouncement about these policies, maybe they just don’t make sense. So, just drop them.” 

Salceda threatened to formally summon the MMDA and LTFRB to clarify the policy. “I demand three things, or Congress will subpoena these agencies to explain,” he noted.  

Salceda agrees that provincial buses should still be subject to traffic rules, but not at the expense of commuters

“First, just drop all these unclear restrictions on provincial buses in EDSA. Second, if they will issue guidelines, they should be jointly issued, so we don’t see a repeat of this awkward finger-pointing. Third, all transport policies of the LTFRB and the MMDA should be properly consulted with commuter groups, and should have a clear, scientific case.” 

Salceda agreed that provincial buses should not be exempt from traffic rules, even to the extent of having specific drop-off points along EDSA. “But heavily restrict their access to the main thoroughfare? We provincianos pay our taxes to maintain EDSA, too. Share the road!” he said. 

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