Rerouting scheme set for banned Manila buses

Local government units and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) agreed Monday to implement a traffic rerouting scheme that would ease the congestion caused by Manila’s ongoing ban on “colorum” passenger buses.

Following a meeting between officials of the agency and Metro mayors or their representatives, it was decided that  provincial and city buses from Quezon City covered by the ban must turn right on Mayon Street, right on M. Cuenco-N. Roxas Streets, right on D. Tuazon Street and then left on Quezon Avenue.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the rerouting scheme in Quezon City would be implemented within this week as soon as the necessary signs were in place.

The ongoing ban has been causing heavy traffic at Manila’s boundary with Quezon City as banned buses must make a U-turn at Welcome Rotunda and head back to Quezon Avenue.

Some of the officials present on Monday were Manila Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. and a representative of the Quezon City government.

Binay, meanwhile, said that no adjustments would be made in Makati City despite the traffic buildup in some thoroughfares like the South Superhighway due to affected passenger buses making a U-turn before reaching the City of Manila.

Last week, the Manila City government started enforcing a council resolution banning buses without terminals from plying the city’s roads.

But Mayor Joseph Estrada later clarified that the ban only applied to buses that were without a franchise. At the same time, he warned that the city would next target all other “colorum vehicles.”