MANILA, Philippines — The dry run of the provincial bus ban along Edsa will still push through but violators will not be made to pay for penalties, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Wednesday.
MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said the agency is eyeing to implement the dry run next week, August 6 or 7, but penalties will not be imposed on violators of the ban.
READ: MMDA eyes dry run of provincial bus ban on August 6 or 7 — exec
“Baka ang mangyari, we will do the dry run without enforcement,” Garcia told reporters in an interview, also answering affirmatively when asked if there will no longer be penalties against the violators.
Garcia earlier said the MMDA will impose penalties against violators of the ban even during its dry run.
According to the MMDA, bus operators and drivers will be made to pay fines of P5,000 and P1,000 respectively should they violate the ban after the dry run ends.
READ: MMDA: Edsa’s provincial bus ban to start August; violators face sanction
Garcia said he is still determining the legality of imposing penalties because the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) memorandum circular that complements the bus ban and provides for the penalties is conditional.
LTFRB Memorandum Circular 2019-031 will only be implemented once all the provincial bus terminals along Edsa are shut down. The MC will be effective on Friday, August 2.
“[Dine-determine] ko pa yung legality, ano yung magiging legal basis ko kapag nag enforce ako,” the MMDA official said.
The MMDA has yet to inform local government units, particularly Pasay City and Quezon City, to cancel the business permits of the bus terminals in their respective areas starting next week.
Garcia said the MMDA, the LTFRB, bus operators and other stakeholders will discuss to discuss the fine details of the bus ban implementation.
“We need the 100% cooperation of all stakeholders para makita natin kung ano ang magiging problema pag tinuloy natin ito,” he said. /muf