Over 100 Illegal Bus Terminals in QC to be Shut Down

Good news for those who view bus terminals along EDSA as a nuisance. A new memorandum of agreement (MOA) seeks to rid Metro Manila's largest city of over 100 bus terminals operating illegally. Representatives from the Quezon City government, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) inked the memorandum at an event held at the Quezon City Hall.

At the event, QC Mayor Herbert Bautista along with MMDA and LTFRB chiefs Tim Orbos and Martin Delgra, respectively, signed the MOA with the goal of easing traffic not only on EDSA, but on Mabuhay lanes and other inner roads used as alternate routes. The MOA gives the operators of the illegal bus terminals six months to cease operation. Mayor Bautista threatened the operators with permanent closure if they fail to heed the new memorandum.

"Land always has use. Condominiums and other business establishments could be built on the (land occupied by) illegal bus terminals," Bautista said during the event.

Shape up or ship out

Bautista added that the bus terminals need to beef up the quality of their services unless they want to run the risk of the local government revoking their franchise. Some of the terminals, which have been around for at least 25 years, are still using outdated systems that are no longer able to accommodate the growth of passengers over the years. Bautista said that the terminal's inability to adapt with the times is one of the causes of congestion at these locations.

Quezon City's Business Permit and Licensing Office chair Garry Domingo promised that the local government will ramp up its efforts on monitoring the bus terminals to determine other forms of unlawfulness on the part of bus operators.

“We are hell-bent on enforcing the law,” Domingo said “Only compliant bus terminals will be issued business permits.”

Domingo reminded the operators that the local government issues a different business permit for bus terminals and garages, so a terminal can’t operate as a garage, and vice versa. He said that the bulk of complaints that reach his office were about this particular irregularity.

‘Nose-in-nose-out’ policy at bus terminals a must

Domingo reminded the operators that their buses must comply with the nose-in-nose-out policy when entering or exiting their terminals, as other maneuvering techniques only serve to worsen traffic conditions, especially along EDSA, Manila's busiest thoroughfare.

Despite the new MOA, the QC mayor still intends to assist bus operators in their transition. He says that his administration will work on creating a standard bus terminal design so these facilities can have a positive effect on traffic flow.