Councilor seeks ban on bus terminals along Edsa

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Quezon City councilor has formally tabled a proposal that bus terminals be banned from that section of the Epifanio delos Santos Avenue that cuts through his city to decongest traffic on the thoroughfare.

In his draft of a proposed ordinance, sixth district councilor Melencio Castelo Jr. calls for a prohibition on the construction of bus terminals along Edsa in Quezon City and the shutdown of existing bus stations in the area.

“Appropriate immediate action should be taken and implemented in order to ease the horrendous traffic congestion along Edsa due to the volume of all kinds of motor vehicles,” Castelo said.

He said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority measure of establishing bus terminals on the northern and southern outskirts of the metropolis to ease the flow of traffic on EDSA needs the full support of local government units.

Under the proposed ordinance both sides of Edsa in Quezon City are to be declared “no-bus terminal zones,” where the construction of any bus terminal or station would be strictly prohibited.

According to the measure, “No locational clearance, special use permit and/or building permit shall be issued for the construction and operation of any bus terminal along Edsa, Quezon City.”

Bus companies maintaining and operating bus terminals or stations along Edsa in the city are to be required to transfer within a year after the measure is approved.

The local department of public order and safety, the city planning and development department, the local building official, as well as the business permits and licensing office, in coordination with the MMDA, are to draft the implementing rules and regulations for the measure once approved.

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