Coming soon: An Edsa free of bus terminals (File photo from Philippine Daily Inquirer )
MANILA, Philippines — Initially planning to close all provincial terminals along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) by June, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday said it was now eyeing to have the plan implemented in May.
MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia said the move would ease traffic situation by removing choke points along the highway.
“Our target for that closure is mid-May or third week of May. They will all be totally closed,” Garcia said in Filipin in a press conference.
While the MMDA does not have the ability to directly order the bus operators to close their terminals, Garcia said they would request local government units in writing to cancel the permits of terminals under their jurisdiction.
According to Garcia, of the 97 bus terminals in Metro Manila, 46 are located along the 23.8-kilometer highway.
Garcia said that these terminals could only occupy six to eight buses, which is only a small number of the buses that the companies deploy.
“Once they are eliminated, commuters will benefit because the yellow lane will be decongested,” Garcia said.
Dry run on April 22
Garcia said a dry run of the proposed closure of terminals along Edsa would push through on April 22 despite receiving protests from provincial bus operators.
Garcia clarified, however, that participation in the dry run was optional. Provincial bus operators could still drop off their passengers in their terminals located along Edsa until the terminals could be fully closed.
READ: Dry run of provincial bus ban along Edsa to start on April 22 — MMDA
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