The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is sticking with the window hours scheme for provincial buses, despite thousands of passengers being stranded in terminals.
An MMDA resolution signed March 24 directed provincial buses from the south to end their journey at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), while those from the north should terminate at the North Luzon Express Terminal (NLET) in Bocaue, Bulacan.
In late March, the agency allowed provincial buses to ply major thoroughfares in the capital region but only from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., as COVID-19 restrictions continued to ease.
MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said they consulted with bus operators and stakeholders on the issue.
Aside from this, Artes said they chose the window hours to prevent provincial buses from adding to the volume of vehicles in EDSA.
This was why the MMDA chief said he was puzzled when there was confusion, adding there was a “gentleman’s agreement” among bus operators on the policy.
Artes alleged that bus operators were deliberately causing “issues” so their private terminals would be opened again, adding some bus terminals were earlier ordered closed after failing to pass authorities’ inspections.
Several provincial bus operators limited their operations to evenings due to the newly imposed window hour scheme, but transport authorities clarified the policy only pertains to the use of private terminals within Metro Manila.
“This is consistent with our national policy on the National Development Program, which directs buses entering Metro Manila to end their journey only in integrated terminals,” Artes said.
“It seemed this was done intentionally by bus operators even if they know that their terminals cannot operate outside the window hours,” he added.
Artes said: “There should not be any confusion. We think that this was done intentionally so the public would be angry with the LTFRB and MMDA to justify the terminal in EDSA and Manila, so they can use these even outside the window hours.”
Outside the window hours during the daytime, provincial buses are allowed to use the following terminals:
PITX—Quezon, Region 4-A, MIMAROPA, and Bicol PITX and Araneta Center Cubao—Region 4-A (Calabarzon)
NLET—Region 1, 2, and CAR NLET and Araneta Center Cubao—Region 3 SRIT (Santa Rosa Integrated Terminal in Laguna)—Provincial buses from Visayas and Mindanao