South Station ‘soft’ opening

By: Miguel R. Camus - 10 years ago

LTFRB Chair Winston Ginez.

MANILA, Philippines—The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said provincial buses which have been tagged to use the South Station in Muntinlupa City would be arrested starting Monday if they proceed to other parts of Metro Manila.

LTFRB Chair Winston Ginez said in a text message that the agency had issued a memorandum circular formalizing the policy covering an initial 236 bus units starting 12:01 a.m. on Sept. 1.

“Beginning on Monday, Sept. 1, we will apprehend under JAO (joint administrative order) all affected bus who will not terminate in South Station. Thus, all buses must get their tags at the South Station before Monday,” Ginez said in a text message Friday.

The affected buses were earlier ordered to use the South Station during the “soft opening” last week.

Earlier, more than 500 provincial buses were set to terminate at the South Station, but the Muntinlupa City government later decided to reduce the number to 236 units to determine the impact on traffic conditions. More buses could be allowed to terminate at the South Station moving forward, LTFRB said.

LTFRB earlier said the 236 buses are those coming from Southern Luzon, Bicol and Visayas, with Metro Manila as their endpoint.

The opening of the South Station is part of the LTFRB, MMDA and local government units’ drive to ease traffic congestion in major thoroughfares in Metro Manila due to the practice of provincial buses of dropping and picking up passengers in various terminals in the metropolis.

In a previous statement, Ginez said the circular was issued in preparation for the full implementation of the government’s integrated transport system (ITS) and to rationalize the end points of the affected provincial buses for the efficient and strict enforcement of the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2014-04 against out-of-line violators.

Executive Order no. 67,(s. 2012) provides for the establishment of the ITS in the North and South of Metro Manila. The ITS is projected to be established and fully operational by 2016.

As part of the opening of the South Station, all affected 236 buses from the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) should exit at Filinvest toll then proceed to South Station. From South Station on their way to their provincial station, the buses will enter the SLEx toll under the Alabang viaduct.

Any affected provincial bus found violating the circular will be apprehended for out-of-line violation and penalized under the JAO which imposes a P1-million penalty, three months impoundment and cancellation of franchise.