Poe says she might file raps vs DOTr over PITX issues

Senator Grace Poe on Friday said she might file a case against the Department of Transportation (DOTr) if it does not act on policy issues involving the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).

“Ang gagawin ko kung ‘di man lang subukan ng DOTr na gawin iyan, siyempre kailangan mag-sampa ng kaso laban sa kanila (If the DOTr won’t even try to solve that, I will file a case against them),” the senator told local radio station dzMM.

Poe was referring to the PITX, a multi-modal terminal in Parañaque and a transfer point for buses coming from Cavite and Batangas, and other in-city modes of transportation.

With the presence of the said terminals, buses will no longer be allowed to enter Metro Manila to helps lessen the traffic congestion on Edsa.

However, Poe raised the concern that the DOTr has granted exemptions to some provincial buses, allowing them to enter Metro Manila.

READ: Poe questions exemption of 300 buses from using PITX 

The senator said the DOTr must conduct tests and review the results of using the PITX before granting exemptions.

“Kailangan magrun sila ng mas maraming test [on PITX] para mapagaan yung traffic. Ang ginawa na nila [DOTr] one week pa lang nagbigay sila ng exemption,” Poe said.

(They should run tests on the use of PITX and how it helps decongest Edsa. They ran the test for only one week and  started granting exemptions.)

Poe’s Senate committee on public services conducted an inquiry on the operation of the PITX, which was found to have problems over rationalization of routes and the issuance of franchises.

READ: Poe warns vs issuing more PUV franchises to address PITX concerns

Aside from the DOTr, Poe also called out the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to issue a fare matrix for buses using the PITX. She noted that some passengers pay the same fare for shorter trips. /ee

READ: Create fare matrix for PITX buses, Poe tells LTFRB