The Metro Manila Development Authority on Tuesday shut down five bus terminals in Cubao, Quezon City for continuing to defy a traffic policy aimed to further ease traffic along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.
MMDA chairman Danilo Lim identified the bus companies as DLTB Co., ALPS, Lucena Lines, Raymund Transport and Super Lines.
The terminals were ordered closed for violating the Nose-In Nose-Out policy being imposed by the agency; operating without permits from the Office of the Mayor and failure to comply with local ordinances.
Lim said most of the bus firms also lacked the maneuvering space at their own terminals, a clear violation of the policy.
The Nose-In Nose-Out policy, according to Lim, requires buses to get in and out of the terminals in one simple maneuver and are not allowed to load and unload outside their respective terminals.
Under MMDA Resolution 16-06, Series of 2016, the agency reiterates the Nose-In, Nose Out policy of provincial buses entering and exiting the terminals located along Edsa, stressing that there should be no queuing of buses along the major thoroughfare at anytime.
The resolution notes that violators will be issued a Uniform Ordinance Violation Receipt for obstruction and disregarding traffic sign with corresponding penalty or fine.
It also prohibits private and public utility vehicles from unloading or loading passengers and cargo in front of the provincial bus terminals that would ultimately cause traffic snarls in the area.
To remedy this, bus operators and owners should designate unloading or loading bays within their terminals or streets outside Edsa.
MMDA records showed that there are 85 provincial bus companies situated in Metro Manila.
Of the 85 provincial bus companies, 45 firms have terminals on Edsa, particularly in Cubao and Balintawak in Quezon City, and Taft Avenue in Pasay City.
Around 3,300 provincial buses and 12,000 city buses pass through EDSA daily.
Officials said that the government’s plan to remove illegal terminals would help improve the flow of traffic since provincial buses will no longer enter Metro Manila to load and unload passengers.
