Sec. Duque fought alone
By Ermin Garcia Jr.
NOW it can be told.
While the provincial board was looking at everyone but itself to blame for the continued non-operation of bus trips to Metro Manila (MM), a backdoor channel was opened to Health Sec. Francisco Duque III to consider pitching in the effort to enable Pangasinenses to be conveniently reunited during the Christmas holiday with buses finally resuming operations between Pangasinan and MM.
Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, bus transport between Pangasinan and MM was abruptly suspended. This left many families stranded on either side, with no means to travel via public transport. The only option left for families to reach out to stranded members are the illegal operations of unmarked private vehicles that charge P2k -3K per trip, rates that most families could ill afford.
Bus companies tried to secure permits to resume servicing the Pangasinan-MM route as early as January but to no avail. However, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) granted permits for point-to-point transport service, i.e., Baguio City-Pasay City, v.v., Laoag City-Cubao, v.v. But nothing for Pangasinan.
In February, the LTFRB finally opened its doors to bus companies in Pangasinan with one caveat – the buses can only load and unload passengers to and from MM at the North Luzon Express Terminal (NLET) in Bocaue Bulacan. (It’s the town that hosts the Philippine Arena owned by Iglesia ni Cristo on NLEX). Here’s the rub – for the privilege to use the terminal, NLET will reportedly charge a bus company using its facilities P100k monthly for each slot reserved by it. (The number of trips to-and-fro Pangasinan-MM alone would require one company at least 10 slots or P1-million a month in parking fees).
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DISCRIMINATION VS PANGASINENSES. The LTFRB rule requires Pangasineses originating from Pangasinan terminals to be offloaded in NLET-Bocaue, then transfer to another bus that will bring them to a place in MM but not at the bus companies’ terminals in MM. It means Pangasinenses not only have to lug their baggage (and boxes) from one bus to another after they secure another ticket to board another bus. Then they board taxi or bus or LRT/MRT fare once they arrive in MM to get to their destinations.
Consider the same travel pattern, this time originating from MM. One has to travel to NLET-Bocaue before one can board a bus traveling to a town or city in Pangasinan. Then there’s the waiting time for the trip. All told, the usual 5 hours travel time will be six-seven hours.
The additional distance to and from NLET-NLEX will also expectedly result in an upward adjustment in bus fares.
These aggravating situations are not being suffered by travelers from other provinces and cities in the north. They are privileged to board buses given direct access by LTFRB to and from MM. Only Pangasinenses are made to bear the brunt.
It seems the provincial board was hardly aware that LTFRB’s new policy, courtesy of IAFTF’s resolution, not only impacted negatively on viability of bus companies but on Pangasinan travelers.
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WHY SEC. DUQUE? Our Sec. Pincoy Duque, a true-blue Pangasinense, is the chairman of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) whose Resolution 101 dated February 2021, is being invoked by the LTFRB as the basis for its discriminatory policy being imposed on bus companies operating the Pangasinan-MM route that negatively impact on the daily lives of thousands of families in Pangasinan.
Section E, Item 3 of IATF Resolution 101 prescribes: “For the National Capital Region, all buses bound for provinces shall be required to use Integrated Terminal Exchange as the central hub for transportation. No bus company shall be allowed use of their private terminals.”
The IAFT resolution was adopted at the height of the pandemic that saw surges in subsequent months. Nobody could object to that. But the MM and Pangasinan have since been placed under Alert Level 2, meaning no serious threats of COVID-19 exist. More than 40% of populace in both areas have been vaccinated. Even occupancy rates of restaurants and buses have been increased. In brief, the conditions that existed for the resolution are already non-existent.
Sec. Duque, who is focused on the management of the pandemic 24/7, was unaware of the continuing negative impact of the already outdated IATF resolution on Pangasinenses. Why? There was no word from Pangasinan officialdom.
He quickly asked for briefers on the status of the LTFRB policy that invoked the IATF resolution, the position of the bus companies and updates from the provincial government.
Given the solid arguments and updates given him, Sec. Duque hastened to manifest before the en banc meeting of IAFT two weeks ago of the need to rescind the controversial and outdated section of the resolution immediately. The meeting supported him. However, MMDA chair Benhur Abalos interjected with his objection. His argument? The expected monstrous traffic that will be created if the outdated provision is rescinded.
But Mr. Abalos’ argument is flawed. If the LTFRB policy compels passengers of buses to and from NLET to board another bus to reach their final destination, what difference is there in numbers between the same bus proceeding straight to MM and the transfer bus traveling to MM? None, unless the idea is to bar buses from Pangasinan from entering MM.
Last week, Sec. Duque sought to sustain the decision to rescind the resolution but without any update or appeal from the provincial government (except a resolution of “no objection to resumption,” he did not have a chance in the face of vehement objection from MMDA. Consequently, the en banc shelved the “rescind” decision and created a sub-committee of the technical working group (TWG) to review and assess the situation on the ground, and to await TWG’S recommendation whether to sustain, update of rescind the outdated resolution. MMDA prevailed. (That surely made the NLET owners extremely happy).
Sec. Duque lost in his bid to help Pangasinenses because our provincial government did not act decisively to pursue a fair resolution to the impasse over the resumption of bus trips on Pangasinan-MM routes for the benefit of the families separated by the pandemic.
He also expected an update from Gov. Amado Espino III but it did not reach him in time for last Thursday meeting. (The governor’s letter to DOTR Sec. Arthur Tugade on the issue was reportedly signed only on Friday, a day late).
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WHO CAN HELP? There’s no doubt the provincial government has an ally in Sec. Duque on the issue but there are other notable Pangasinenses like Sec. Raul Lambino, father of VG Mark Lambino, who can make a strong push for our people.
Hopefully, the situation can still be salvaged if either or both Gov. Espino or VG Lambino can make an official appeal to the IATF for the immediate withdrawal of the outdated resolution. If Pangasinan succeeds, then the officialdom can proceed to reiterate the appeal to Sec. Tugade for the lifting of the condition imposing the use of NLET – for Pangasinenses sake. After all, there are no legal impediments for bus companies in MM to pass through EDSA and to use their private terminals. The regional trial court in Quezon City has ruled in 2019 that the bus companies have the right to use their terminals.
Then I am told that the bus companies may consider using NLET on an optional basis with parking fees provided the buses are allowed to proceed to Metro Manila without forcibly unloading passengers from Pangasinan, and to allow buses from Metro Manila to proceed to Pangasinan even from NLET. They can only pray the owners of the NLET will be more reasonable for the sake of a large community whose families are affected.
BUT, the provincial board is gravely mistaken to believe that the plight of Pangasinenses is in the hands of the bus companies. The last time I checked, it’s the provincial government that should look after the welfare of its constituents.
The ball is definitely in the provincial government’s court.
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