MMDA offers free Naia shuttle service
MANILA, Philippines—A ride to and from the airport could take 25 minutes or less if passengers would avail themselves of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s free shuttle service at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay and the South-West Integrated Provincial Transport Terminal in Parañaque, which is aimed at ensuring domestic passengers do not miss their flights due to heavy traffic.
During the launch at the SM MOA on Monday morning, MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino said they designated six buses which can shuttle about 60 domestic flights passengers at a time to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminals 2, 3 and 4 starting Monday until December 23 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The service is intended not only to provide convenience to the passengers but also to reduce the number of vehicles going to the airport during the holiday season.
“Instead of these passengers utilizing their own private cars or cabs to bring them to the airport, they can go as a group by availing of the free airport shuttle service we are providing,” Tolentino said.
The MMDA chair said the airport shuttle service will be free of charge for passengers only upon presentation of their tickets, but he said two or more companions of the passenger may be allowed to ride the shuttle bus.
During the pilot ride from SM MOA to the Naia Terminals 3 and 4, MMDA Traffic Engineering head Neomie Recio said that it took them only 25 minutes to reach the terminals.
The MMDA said that it designated SM MOA and South-West Integrated Provincial Transport Terminal as the pickup and dropoff points for passengers since these are places easily accessible to people on their way to the airport.
“We, however, advise passengers to still travel early to the designated pickup points to avoid further delays,” Tolentino said.
For American Mike Burnett who arrived from Virac, Catanduanes, with his wife and two kids on Monday, the free bus shuttle was a big help.
“Previously, we would line up for about an hour just to ride a cab from the airport but with this service, we will not anymore go through that hassle and spend money to travel to and from the airport,” Burnett said.
Two weeks ago, the MMDA also dispatched bus shuttle services but this time for a fee to six major malls along Edsa to provide safe and hassle-free transportation to mall employees and late-night shoppers.
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