DoTC eyeing areas for transport system project to decongest Metro Manila traffic

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC) Monday announced that it is looking for possible locations at northern and southern points in Metro Manila where it can build its Integrated Transport System (ITS) project.

The DoTC is looking for lots ranging from three to seven hectares that are near the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), near the Coastal Road/ Macapagal Highway, and near the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), it said in a statement released Monday.

DoTC said that the lots should be at least 300 meters from the nearest train station of the Light Rail Transit (LRT), Metro Rail Transit (MRT) or the Philippine National Railways (PNR).

Lot owners are invited to send their formal proposal to the DoTC office in Mandaluyong before April 16, it said.

“The ITS will put up a bus terminal north of Metro Manila for provincial buses with Northern Luzon routes and two in the south, one near the South Luzon Expressway and another near the Coastal Road/Cavitex for provincial buses with Southern Luzon routes,” DoTC said.

The project is expected to reduce traffic congestion within Metro Manila since nearly 60 percent, or 7,368, of the 13,067 buses in the city are provincial buses, DoTC said.

Having integrated bus terminals at the outskirts of the city will also help reduce the number of provincial bus terminals within the city. DoTC said that there are 85 located within Metro Manila, and 46 are located along the stretch of Edsa.

“The ITS will make commuting to the provinces more convenient because these will be linked to other available mass transport systems such as the LRT/MRT and PNR,” DoTC Secretary Mar Roxas said in the statement.

“Interested parties may address their proposals to Atty. Rene K. Limcaoco, Undersecretary for Planning, Unit 169, 16F The Columbia Tower, Brgy. Wack-wack, Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong,” DoTC said.

“As per government policy on request for proposals, the Transportation department assumes no responsibility to compensate or indemnify interested parties for expenses occurred in the preparation of proposals,” it said.

“The DoTC reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals, to annul or cancel the invitation process at any time prior to selection, impose additional terms and conditions and accept the proposal most advantageous to the Government without thereby incurring any liability to the affected interested party/parties,” it said.