'Central Bus Terminal Concept Needs to be Considered'

A former lawmaker expressed belief that the proposal of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) to put up a central bus terminal along the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road should be considered.

Former Kabataan Party-list Representative Terry Ridon, speaking as a convenor of Infrawatch PH, said that the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) should consider the said proposal instead of insisting on banning provincial buses along EDSA.

SMC President and Chief Operations Officer Ramon Ang made the proposal following the government's plan to ban provincial buses along EDSA.

"With this new development, it might be most prudent for the MMDA to reconsider its proposal for travers from the provinces to use out-of-the-way terminals in Santa Rosa, Laguna and Valenzuela," the former member of the House transportation committee said.

He said that the public's opposition to the provincial bus ban should convince the MMDA that there are other alternatives to their current proposal of banning provincial buses along EDSA.

Ridon said the main concerns of passengers with the MMDA provincial bus ban include added transport costs and inconvenience of riding city buses from bus terminals that are clearly out of the city center.

"SMC's proposal hopefully addresses these concerns, although we will still have to see details of its proposal, to determine whether transport costs would not be severely affected, and whether passenger convenience will be met," the former solon added.

Ridon said many travellers from the provinces complain that forcing them on city buses would be burdensome, particularly if they are bringing numerous luggages.

"The SMC central bus terminal should literally be at Metro Manila's city center to truly make a difference from what the MMDA offers and seeks to replace, the Cubao terminals," Ridon concluded.