“We saw a lot of illegal terminals,” said Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Jojo Garcia when asked to comment on its operation in Pasay City on Wednesday.
In a phone interview with INQUIRER.net, Garcia said that together with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the agency towed one bus found operating out-of-line.
LTFRB board member Atty. Aileen Lizada confirmed that one bus owned by Bobis Liner was towed on EDSA on Wednesday.
READ: LTFRB tows out-of-line bus in Pasay City
The MMDA chief said there were actually three buses found operating out-of-line, but only one bus was caught in the act.
“Alam ko tatlo yung nahuli kanina eh. Kaso kasi isa lang doon yung may pasahero kaya isa lang talaga yung kumpirmado na out of line (I know there were three buses apprehended earlier, but only one was carrying passengers, so only one was confirmed to be out-of-line),” Garcia said.
‘Nose in-nose out’ violations
In a separate interview, Garcia said that apart from the complaints received by the MMDA, the agency has also been on the lookout for buses violating the LTFRB’s “nose in-nose out” policy.
“Bukod po sa mga reklamo, matagal na rin nating sinu-surveillance ito kaya marami kaming mga litrato rin, mga ebidensya na hindi talaga sila tumutupad sa nose in-nose out (Aside from the complaints, we have photos of buses violating the ‘nose in-nose out’ policy),” Garcia said in an interview with dzBb.
The MMDA has ordered the closure of five bus terminals in Pasay area for violating the “nose in-nose out” policy.
“Traffic gets heavier when buses go in and out of their terminals because vehicles on the road are waiting for them to maneuver,” MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim said. /ee
READ: MMDA orders closure of 5 Pasay City bus terminals