MMDA: Give Edsa provincial bus ban a chance

MANILA, Philippines – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) appealed to the public on Monday to give the provincial bus ban a chance.

MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago asked the public to support the agency’s policies which are “for the common good.”

“Bigyan po natin ng chance ‘yung dry run ng ating pag-ban sa ating provincial terminals at ito hong reinforcement natin ng pagbaba at pagsakay sa tamang sakayan sa Edsa (Let’s give the provincial bus ban a chance, as well as the enforcement of illegal loading and unloading polices),”Pialago said in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel.

“Suportahan niyo ho ‘yung agency because this is for all of us, this is for the common good (Please support the MMDA, whose policies are for the common good),” she added.

The provincial bus ban’s dry run officially started Monday, where provincial buses are encouraged to pass through the interim terminals located in Valenzuela City in northern Metro Manila and Sta. Rosa City in Laguna, instead of entering Metro Manila.

The MMDA will also start apprehending provincial bus drivers who will load and unload passengers along Edsa. They will be fined P500.

She added that the MMDA welcomes comments and suggestions regarding the agency’s policies.

“We have so many policies along the way, we know and we understand that some of the motorists and commuters are not into this,” the MMDA spokesperson said.

“Lahat naman, may left and right, may mga komentaryo po sila. But all of those comments, negative reactions are very much welcome in our office,” she added (There are always two sides to an issue. There will always be comments, and we welcome the,),” she added. /gsg