By Aerol John Pateña/PNA
MANILA — The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) will soon be offering shuttle services to its passengers, a transport official announced Wednesday.
“PITX has proposed and the Board accepted the giving of special permits on shuttle service that will be applied for by shuttle service operators. The special permit will allow shuttle service operators to take passengers from PITX to areas not frequented by PUVs plying Metro Manila,” LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III said in a press briefing.
The shuttle service aims to ferry passengers from PITX to areas that are not being serviced by public utility vehicles going to Metro Manila from the terminal, and seek to complement the operation of other modes of public transport such as city buses, jeepneys and UV Express from PITX.
Their routes will be determined by the management of PITX based on passenger demand.
“There might be instances where passengers might not be able to take a ride to specific destinations. There was a mention about Taft Avenue, MRT, Baclaran or wherever. If there would be an increased demand on the passengers waiting at PITX towards these destinations, the shuttle service would complement the existing city buses, PUJs as well as UV Express,” Delgra said.
The LTFRB chief said the PITX will be the one to set the fare rates of the shuttle service, subject to the regulation of the Board.
“It all depends on PITX kasi sila nga yung nagpo-propose (because they were the ones who proposed this). There is a suggestion that they might probably absorb the costs. The mechanics is all up to PITX,” Delgra said.
“If they filed a petition for special permit and they will waive the fare, OK. If they will say that the fare is this much, then we will determine whether it is reasonable or not. We will know about it by the time that the application for special permit will be filed,” he added.
The LTFRB expects the PITX to have its full operation by the Christmas season, amid the expected huge influx of passengers going to and from Metro Manila.
PITX, which was inaugurated last Nov. 5 by President Rodrigo Duterte, 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.
