DOTC approves bus services for Naia arrivals

Abaya

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is planning to open bus services at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) that will take arriving passengers to at least four cities in Metro Manila.

Under a scheme that the DOTC said could be implemented within the year, buses will be ferrying new arrivals to Makati City, Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City, and Ortigas center in Pasig City, DOTC spokesperson Michael Sagcal said.

“For arriving airline passengers, the first trip is getting from the airport to their homes, hotels and business centers. We are expanding their options to modern buses, so they will not have to rely on taxis alone. This is part of our bus reform program, which will improve passenger safety and convenience,” Transportation Secretary Joseph Abaya said in a statement on Tuesday.

“These higher-capacity vehicles will benefit not only travelers and tourists but also airport employees and greeters. We hope that with more efficient use of road space, this will help ease traffic congestion around airports as well,” Abaya added.

The buses are part of a new category of mass transport vehicles that the DOTC has designated to include transport services that rely on smartphone applications, like Uber and GrabCar.

Under this new category, airport buses will be required to comply with new service standards, like having onboard closed-circuit television cameras, global positioning system (GPS) devices, automated bus arrival electronic displays, cashless or automated fare collection systems and free Wi-Fi.

Airport buses will be required to follow a schedule, with designated off-street stops for loading and unloading, to avoid aggravating traffic on their routes. They will also be required to set up booking offices.

Other technical requirements include a low floor height of 0.28 to 0.38 meters above ground, luggage compartments and environment-friendly technologies like electric or hybrid engines for low emission levels.

“These new bus categories are cost-effective solutions that can cut down travel time, help in decongesting streets and enhance passenger experience through scheduled trips and orderly boarding procedures,” Abaya said.

The DOTC and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) have begun raising service level standards for public utility buses. The effort includes the phaseout of buses that are more than 15 years old and requiring passenger buses to install GPS devices to help regulators and law enforcers monitor erring drivers.–Miguel R. Camus