MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is looking into implementing a dry run of the provincial bus ban along Edsa next week.
MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said Monday that the MMDA is considering either August 6 (Tuesday) or August 7 (Wednesday) to start the dry run.
“Ang tentative po natin is either August 6 or 7, either Tuesday or Wednesday ‘yan,” Garcia said in an interview over dzMM.
“Magme-meeting lang kami ngayong week na ito ulit kung maayos na ba itong mga ruta,” he added.
Garcia said the MMDA will implement the dry run following the effectivity of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) memorandum circular that amends provincial bus routes along Edsa.
Under Memorandum Circular (MC) 2019-031, provincial buses coming from the North and South with terminals along Edsa will no longer be allowed to ply Edsa but would have to end their trips at interim terminals in Valenzuela and Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
The MC will be effective starting Friday, August 2.
READ: LTFRB amends routes for provincial buses with terminals along Edsa
By Monday next week, Garcia said the MMDA will start requesting local government units (LGUs), particularly Quezon City and Pasay City, to cancel the business permits of the provincial bus terminals along Edsa.
“We’re hoping po na paglabas ng circular na yan, and effective ng August 2, hopefully by August 5 (Monday), we will write the concerned LGUs, Quezon City and Pasay requesting to cancel all business permits,” the MMDA official said.
“While waiting for the order of the LGUs to cancel the business permits, ida-dry run na lang muna namin kasi may proseso pa ‘yan,” he added.
The bus ban is aimed at decongesting traffic along Edsa and shorten the traveling time of commuters plying the busy thoroughfare, the MMDA official said.
Garcia earlier said that the MMDA will impose penalties on violators of the bus ban during the dry run.
“Mag-e-enforce kami, pero dry run lang, pero may huli. Alam naman natin ‘yung mga matitigas na ulong kababayan natin, kapag walang enforcement, walang sumusunod,” he said in an earlier interview with reporters. /je
READ: MMDA: Edsa’s provincial bus ban to start August; violators face sanction