Edsa bus scheme nets 121 violators

Although it has been in effect for just two days, the bus segregation scheme on Edsa has already been declared a success by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino.

“There are just a few adjustments to be made. There is just some confusion because some people are not aware of it. But I expect that will last only until [Thursday],” he said in an interview Wednesday.

Based on figures posted by MMDA traffic discipline czar Yves Gonzalez on his Twitter account, the agency has accosted the drivers of 121 city buses plying the Edsa route for violating the newest traffic scheme since the start of its implementation on Tuesday.

Of the total, 22—14 bus drivers on Tuesday and eight more on Wednesday—were apprehended after their vehicles were found to be operating without the required stickers from the MMDA.

The rest were accosted after they picked up or let off passengers at loading bays that were not assigned to them. Of the 99 bus drivers that were apprehended for this violation, 74 were caught on Tuesday and 25 the following day.

MMDA Assistant General Manager for Operations Emerson Carlos said the violators were meted out the corresponding sanctions.

Buses without the required stickers were either impounded or their drivers asked to pay a P1,000 fine. On the other hand, drivers who were caught violating their designated bus stops were issued traffic tickets.

Under the bus segregation scheme, which was implemented by the MMDA to ease traffic on Edsa, some 3,100 city buses were assigned specific loading or unloading bays.

Alabang-bound, or A, buses, which should have stickers with the letter A displayed on their windshield, would be allowed to stop only at their designated loading bays. The same also goes for Baclaran-bound, or B, buses.