By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

JUST when we thought the worst was over for our families that have been long separated by the pandemic after the IATF rescinded its resolution that required provincial buses operating in the region to use North Luzon Express Terminal (NLET) in Bocaue, here comes a new plot of the LTFRB and MMDA with the same objective – to force bus companies to use the NLET! Why NLET, you ask.

Recall that Health Sec. Francisco Duque III worked for the withdrawal of the resolution that was introduced by DOTr, after being informed how it discriminated and inconvenienced Pangasinenses traveling to-and-fro Pangasinan-Metro Manila.  The resolution compelled    Pangasinenses to transfer to another bus on reaching NLET (located inside the Philippine Arena compound in Bocaue, Bulacan, owned and operated by Iglesia ni Cristo) to reach Cubao-Makati.

Without the IATF resolution to pursue their agenda today, the LTFRB/MMDA conspiracy resorted to its “10 p.m.-4 a.m. window” within which provincial buses plying the north route can only traverse EDSA. (NOTE: Only bus companies will use NLET will be given permits to ply EDSA route. Clever!).

The alibi? To contain the traffic volume on EDSA and improve flow of vehicular movement. Neat! At least, that’s what the LTFRB-MMDA conspirators want us to believe.

But what we are seeing today is actually a cover-up of an agenda that aims to benefit both agencies’ appointive officials (and NLET) without complete regard to the plight of passengers from Pangasinan. Under their new policy, “10 p.m.-4 a.m. window”, Pangasinenses who have to rush to Metro Manila will have no other option but to spend more and hire ‘colorum’ vehicles, or prepare for 6-7-hours travel time instead of 4-5 hours travel time because of the need for connecting trips.

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HIDDEN FACTS. Below are facts kept away from the commuting public.

1. Provincial bus companies have been granted a writ of preliminary injunction by the QC court in 2019 to use their private terminals on EDSA at anytime, meaning their buses can traverse EDSA.

2. LTFRB’s policy requiring provincial buses, i.e., Victory Liner, Five Star, Solid North, Dagupan Bus, etc. to use the NLET and stopping their operation of their private terminals is a violation of the court injunction.

3. The use of NLET requires bus companies to pay P100k-P150K monthly in parking fees per slot for loading and unloading passengers. This easily translates to a
   minimum P1M fee from each of the bus companies operating in Pangasinan.

4. The operation of NLET as Integrated Terminal Exchange was not bidded out while the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) was bidded out by the government.

5. PITX does not charge bus companies monthly fees; NLET is charging parking fees for loading and unloading passengers for the connecting trips.

6. There was no agreement between the bus companies and MMDA for the use of the “10 p.m.-4 a.m. window” as claimed by MMDA.

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CONTRADICTIONS IN POLICY. The conspiracy is hiding its true agenda by invoking public interests.

1. The government policy is to develop and promote mass transport system and integrated terminals.
2. There is a need to improve the flow of vehicular traffic on EDSA.
3. Both agencies agree on observation that it is the volume of private vehicles that clog the EDSA lanes.

Now comes the twisted, convoluted solution to the factors invoked:

1. Stop operations of the private terminals of bus companies on EDSA.
2. Stop provincial buses from traversing EDSA.
3. Require bus companies for bus companies from the north to use NLET.

By deciding to knock off the bus companies, whose operations minimally represent the envisioned mass transport system, they contravened the national policy. Worse, nothing is said about the need to impose regular car-pooling to effectively regulate the volume of private vehicles using EDSA – the root of the traffic volume problem on EDSA.

And what problems do both passengers and bus companies face by using NLET?

1. NLET is some 30 kilometers away from Metro Manila where private terminals/depots are.
2. Without sufficient access to connecting bus trips to Metro Manila or Pangasinan, passengers will be made to wait for connecting trips, further extending travel time by at least 1-2 hours, assuming there are enough buses waiting to accommodate unloaded passengers from different points.
3. The connecting system will require bus companies to rent at least 10 slots to service their loyal passengers when they don’t have to.
4. Schedule of bus trips to originate from NLET for connecting trips to Metro Manila are irregular because of unpredictable travel time of buses traveling from terminals in Metro Manila.
5. NLET compound is isolated yet no jeepney or tricycle that can transport passengers-in-waiting to fastfood restaurants in Bocaue are allowed in the terminal. Only passengers with access to private cars in the area can expect to leave the terminal at any time. (I’ve seen this).
6. Passengers will be paying more to cover the distance for the connecting trips.

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BENEFICIARIES OF CONSPIRACY. So, if government does not gain from the conspiracy’s plot, who benefits? Certainly not the buses that have to pay P100k per slot; not the passengers that are made to suffer longer travel time and inconvenience to reach their destination.

So, who and what do they gain from the LTFRTB-MMDA conspiracy?

1. The INC, owner and operator of NLET, hopes to gain from the millions in monthly fees that otherwise should be free, like the PITX.

2. The appointive officials of LTFRB and MMDA, who are co-terminus with the outgoing Duterte administration, rushing the implementation of the NLET as paying-Integrated Terminal Exchange, from guaranteed profit incentives (?).

So, wonder no more why LTFRB and MMDA are persistent in twisting the arms of the bus companies to use NLET!

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REALITY CHECK. It is not possible to expect our provincial government to act on this problem today, not with the elections just 2 weeks away. Any candidate that takes this cause will surely lose the potential endorsement of INC.

We can only wait this problem out until the new administration has taken over and hope that the new occupant at the Malacañang Palace will be true to his/her pledge to defend and promote welfare of the common tao.

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