MMDA Wants Prov'l Bus Terminals on EDSA Closed by January 2019

With the recent opening of the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) and the rest of the 'landports' in Laguna and Valenzuela to follow before the year ends, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is targeting the closure of all provincial bus terminals along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) by January next year.

"May directive sa amin ang Pangulo that provincial bus terminals along Edsa be closed down. Remove anything that obstructs traffic along Edsa didiretso yan at bibilis (The President has given a directive that provincial bus terminals along Edsa be closed. Remove anything that obstructs traffic along Edsa, so it will be smooth-flowing and faster)," said MMDA General Manager Jose Arturo Garcia Jr..

The MMDA is developing its removal strategy with the help of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), local government units (LGUs), and other stakeholders in the transportation sector.

"Ang target namin is January talaga. I hope na aksyunan nila agad. I talked with DOTr Undersecretary for Road Transport Mark de Leon and LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III. We must also talk with NLEX and SLEX. I’m already giving pressure to them. Sabi ko nga: Let's do this (Our target is really on January. I hope they act on this soon. I’m already giving pressure to them. I told them: Let's do this),” Garcia exclaimed.

According to the MMDA, there are currently 46 bus terminals along EDSA, and their removal will go a long way toward improving traffic flow on the major highway.