MMDA cracks whip on bus companies

A traffic enforcer of the MMDA stands busy organizing traffic along the busy Epifanio delos Santos Avenue. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / LYN RILLON

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday shut down two bus terminals in Pasay City and impounded five buses that were found to be illegally operating on Edsa.

After being served a final notice to comply last week, the terminals jointly used by bus companies—Bragais, Pamar, St. Jude and San Rafael—were ordered closed by the MMDA and Pasay City’s business permits and licensing office.

Pasay City Administrator Dennis Acorda said the permit for the terminal used by St. Jude and San Rafael had not only expired and but was also originally intended for a garage, while the terminal used by Bragais and Pamar had been operating with no permit at all.

Acorda also pointed out that it was illegal for the bus companies to be sharing terminals.

The two adjoining terminals were closed down also for ignoring the MMDA’s “nose in, nose out” policy for buses entering or leaving terminals located along Edsa. The policy was intended to reduce traffic congestion on the country’s busiest highway.

READ: ‘Nose in, nose out’ rule on for Edsa bus terminals

The MMDA ordered the affected buses transferred to the Southwest Integrated Provincial Terminal (Swipt) at HK Sun Plaza along Roxas Boulevard.

Meanwhile, MMDA chair Danilo Lim ordered five Cavite-bound buses of Don Aldrin Transport Inc. to be impounded at the agency’s Tumana property in Marikina City for operating outside their approved route.

Lim said an MMDA dialogue with Cavite bus operators last month ended with an agreement that, starting Aug. 1, they should only pick up and drop off passengers at Swipt. Don Aldrin Transport, however, continued to pick up passengers at the terminal owned by Smart Bus, which carries passengers to and from the Bicol region.

The MMDA imposes a P6,000 fine each on out-of-line buses. JPV