LTFRB amends routes for provincial buses with terminals along Edsa

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has amended the routes for provincial buses, which may soon no longer be allowed to travel along Edsa. 

In LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2019–031, it said that all routes of provincial buses coming from the North with terminals along Edsa are temporarily amended to end at the Valenzuela Interim Terminal. 

Buses coming from South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao with terminals on Edsa along Pasay City will alight passengers at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX). 

As for buses coming from the south whose terminals are located in Edsa along Cubao, Quezon City will end their trip at the Sta. Rosa Interim Terminal in Laguna. 

“The routes of all City Buses are also deemed provisionally amended, extending their end point in the North to Valenzuela Interim Terminal and at Sta. Rosa Interim Terminal and Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange in the South,” the memorandum circular read. 

The memorandum circular complements the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) proposal to ban all provincial buses to travel along  Edsa, which will, in turn, shut down 47 provincial terminals located in the main thoroughfare. 

The memorandum circular also read that fares all affected buses by reason of shortening or extending their routes shall correspond to the actual distance per kilometer as authorized by the LTFRB, depending on the classification of the bus units authorized to operate. 

All affected buses shall have a “window time” to be determined by the MMDA. 

“Provincial bus terminals not along Edsa shall enjoy the status quo in the meantime, provided that the buses utilizing or accessing such terminals shall pass through Edsa during the window time only, although they are allowed to cross Edsa any time of the day,” the LTFRB said. 

It also read that the provisions of the memorandum circular shall only take effect “upon closure of all public utility bus terminals along Edsa by the concerned local government units, and the establishment and accreditation of the identified Interim Terminals.” /je