House Transportation Committee Chair Edgar Mary Sarmiento has sent notice to 16 government agencies involved in traffic and transportation management reminding them of their commitment to implement various transpiration plans and programs to address the anticipated influx of people and vehicles going out of Metro Manila for the Halloween break.
” The undersigned respectfully reminds your office to effectively implement your commitments involving the implementation of the various transportation plans and programs as discussed in the committee meeting. I trust that you will closely monitor the transportation and traffic situation and to properly attend to the concerns of the commuting public,” Sarmiento wrote in his letter.
The letter was sent to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Philippine National Railways General Manager Junn Magno, Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Administrator Reynaldo Berroya Civil Aeronautics Board Executive Director Atty. Carmelo Arcilla, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Danilo Lim, PNP-Highway Patrol Group Director Police BGen. Eliseo DC Cruz, Land Transportation Office chief, Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante, Cebu Ports Authority (CPA) Administrator Leonilo Miole, Maritime Industry Authority Officer-in-Charge Vice Admiral Narciso Vingson Jr, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)Commandant Admiral Elson Hermogino, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Atty. Martin Delgra III, Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) General Manager Steve Dicdican, Office of Transportation Security (OTS) Administrator Usec. Raul Del Rosario, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager Eddie Monreal and Civial Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Director General Capt. Jim Sydiongco.
Sarmiento reminded the 16 agency heads that last October 2, they made a commitment that they would be more prepared this time in anticipating the influx of passengers who will be travelling out of Metro Manila to visit and spend holidays with their loved ones.
According to Sarmiento, Metro Manila’s traffic is expected to get even worse after the Halloween break because it also marks the beginning of the Christmas rush.
He said that this should prompt traffic and transportation authorities to finalize discussions with city bus company owners for their consolidation for the information technology-based route rationalized plan. This is to expedite the implementation of the centralized and synchronized dispatch system that will have an end-result of predictability.
“We need to immediately implement the system for us to at least alleviate the suffering of the commuting public while the government is building the mid and long-term plans which are the infrastructure and railway system,” Sarmiento said.
Sarmiento said there are around 200 different companies operating a total of around 3,000 to 4,000 city buses which needs to agree to be consolidated and this definitely going to be a challenge especially for the Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade.
“I’m sure, getting them to agree so that they can become part of this centralized and synchronized dispatch system is a challenge but with the Christmas season getting really near, we really need to do something to ease the burden of our people. Secretary really needs to compel these bus companies to toe-the-line. My committee will definitely support him in whatever way we can,” Sarmiento said.
Even during critical months like November and December, Sarmiento said that having the bus over and above the rail system can ensure an efficient, systematic and predictable mass public transport system.
Sarmiento noted however that the only way for the proposed system to work is for the bus companies to agree to be subjected into a centralized dispatch mechanism which makes it possible for an organized and synchronized release of city buses.
