(PNA)
MANILA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has clarified that it is not favoring any bus franchises that are allowed not to end their trips at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) and traverse through Metro Manila.
The DOTr has issued Department Order 2018-025 which converted the franchises of buses from selected areas in the provinces of Bulacan, Laguna and Cavite into city operations to ensure ease of travel for commuters going to and from Metro Manila.
“We have selected certain routes, but we were not specific to any bus operator,” DOTr Officer-In-Charge Undersecretary for Road Transport Mark de Leon said in a text message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Monday.
The DOTr official said the buses covered by the DO operate along commuter routes within the Greater Manila Area which have high passenger demand.
Under the DO, the franchises of buses bound for Metro Manila from the following areas will be converted into city operations:
Bulacan (North) — Bocaue, Meycauayan, Marilao, Obando and San Jose Del Monte City;
Cavite (Southwest) — Imus, Bacoor, Dasmariñas, General Trias, Silang, Kawit, Noveleta and Cavite City;
Laguna (South) — San Pedro, Biñan and Sta. Rosa City.
Public utility buses not covered by the order, including the Batangas (Nasugbu, Calatagan and Balayan) and long-haul Cavite routes, shall terminate at PITX.
City buses with routes operating within the Greater Metro Manila Area are also required to pass through PITX to pick up passengers.
The PITX, which had its soft launching last Saturday, aims to become a transfer point for passengers alighting from provincial buses from Cavite and Batangas and transferring to in-city modes of transportation.
The terminal is expected to reduce the number of provincial buses plying Metro Manila, specifically along Roxas Boulevard, Pasay, and Edsa-Taft area, and will provide connectivity between different transport modes and services, allowing efficient and seamless travel to the riding public.
There are around 70,000 passengers that are served by public utility buses from Bulacan, Cavite, and Laguna going to Metro Manila daily which increases to 5,000 per hour during peak hours, according to the Route Transit Rationalization Study conducted by the DOTr in 2015.
