MANILA — The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) is set to be launched by the end of this month as its construction is nearly completed, an official of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Wednesday.
“We will have a soft launch by the last week of August,” DOTr Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark de Leon said in a text message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
The terminal facility is expected to reduce the number of buses from provinces in the south of Metro Manila and ease traffic flow along the areas of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), Baclaran and Taft Avenue.
The construction of the PITX is now 96 percent complete with its online ticketing and booking system and radio frequency identification (RFID) tagging system of buses still to be concluded, according to the DOTr.
“PITX aims to provide seamless interconnectivity of the different modes of transportation from the neighboring provinces south of Metro Manila to ensure a safe, convenient, and hassle-free travel experience for the commuting public,” it said through its Facebook page.
The PITX, which will be the first intermodal transport in the country, is projected to accommodate up to 200,000 train, jeepney and bus passengers per day.
The terminal will connect passengers coming from the Cavite side to other transport systems such as the future LRT Line 1 South Extension, city bus, taxi, and other public utility vehicles that are serving inner Metro Manila.
It will feature passenger terminal buildings, loading and unloading bays, staging bays, ticketing and baggage handling facilities, as well as park-ride facilities. Commuters can also make use of the free Wi-Fi, charging outlets and an online ticketing system.
The DOTr is pushing for the implementation of the intermodal transport system to ease traffic congestion in the metropolis.
Under the system, provincial buses will no longer be allowed to traverse along major roads in Metro Manila. Terminals will be installed outside the metropolis as these buses and passengers will be linked to other modes of public transportation. (Aerol John Pateña/PNA)
