EDSA bus ban needs “deeper study,” says Baguio council

BAGUIO CITY –– Transportation authorities must take a second look at its plan to decongest EDSA (also known as the Epifanio de Los Santos Avenue) by diverting all Manila-bound provincial buses to a terminal in Valenzuela City, because they have not considered a consequential rise in demand for city buses, according to a Baguio City Council resolution that was passed on Monday (Aug. 5).

The proposed ban on provincial buses from EDSA was supposed to be piloted on Aug. 7 but was stopped last week by a Quezon City court.

“The scheme may ease EDSA of provincial buses, (but) it will congest the Interim Terminal Exchange” in Valenzuela, where Baguio passengers, including the elderly, must disembark and take a city bus to Manila, states the resolution sponsored by Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda.

“The same number of passengers taken off EDSA would still traverse EDSA aboard city buses.  This may bring an increased number of city buses plying EDSA just to meet the demand,” the resolution adds.

The Baguio council urged the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board to review “Memorandum Circular Number 2019-031, which amended the Certificates of Public Convenience of all provincial buses coming from the North and South with terminals along EDSA while provisionally amending also the route of all city buses.”

“Reports say that a total of 47 provincial bus terminals are along EDSA,” the council resolution says. /lzb