Southwest Integrated Bus Terminal Exchange in Paranaque City to Operate by 2018

After announcing its subway plans and the new bus terminal in Marikina City that "caters to passengers going to and from eastern Metro Manila and nearby municipalities in the province of Rizal", they're now fast-tracking another new bus terminal in Paranaque City for commuters coming from southern provinces adjacent to Metro Manila, such as Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Quezon."

The Southwest Integrated Bus Terminal Exchange (SWITex) will connect passengers coming from the Cavite side to other transportation systems like "the future LRT Line 1 South Extension, city bus, taxi, and other public utility vehicles that are serving inner Metro Manila."

Expected to be fully operational by April 2018, it will have arrival and departure bays, passenger terminal buildings, park-ride facilities, public information systems, and ticketing and baggage handling facilities.

Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is continuously identifying and constructing integrated provincial bus terminals to lessen traffic in Epifanio De los Santos Avenue (EDSA) that runs from Caloocan and Pasay City.

“We are now fast-tracking the decision to choose from among 11 sites where the permanent terminals will be," DOTr Undersecretary and MMDA General Manager Thomas Orbos said.

They are looking into locations where the bus terminals can easily access other modes of transport.

“Secretary Tugade's instruction was clear -- it should be able to house an intermodal facility where people can easily transfer from one transport mode to another, and must have easy access to trains, cabs, and other public utility vehicles,” he said.