A TRANSPORT group expressed its support to the call of Gov. Amado Espino III to the Department of Transportation and Railways (DOTr), particularly Secretary Arthur Tugade, to allow the entry into Metro Manila of provincial buses coming from this province.

In a press conference in Lingayen on Dec. 17, the Pilipino Society and Development Advocates Commuter-Consumer (PASADA CC), a non-government organization with 25,000 members nationwide, dedicated to the welfare and pursuit of the interests of millions of Filipino commuters and transport workers, issued a statement saying that with the Christmas holidays around the corner, thousands of commuters would want to enjoy their times with their beloved families in Metro Manila and Pangasinan.

“We appeal to their consciences to please stop hurting us, commuters and transport workers, by making it difficult for us to avail of provincial bus services,” it said.

Ricky Rivera, founder/spokesperson of PASADA, said that they have received hundreds of complaints from their members based in Pangasinan of the difficulty of going to and fro the province despite the lifting of pandemic restrictions to Alert Level 2.

He said that President Duterte as well as Health Secretary Francisco Duque are already convinced of the re-opening of provincial bus operations.

“The resumption of bus operations is crucial to the revival not just of the provincial economy but also allows us, commuters and transport workers who work in Metro Manila to come home to our families in Northern Luzon,” Rivera said.

He added that without provincial buses, “we run the risk of falling victims to unscrupulous colorum bus and van operators who prey unsuspecting commuters with atrocious fare prices.

“Stop operations of colorum vans and buses now!,” their statement added.

The group also stated that they also oppose the policy of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board of requiring bus companies’ special permits just to ply their routes.

“Under the law, franchises are enough, period. We appeal to both DOTR secretary Tugade and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Atty. Benhur Abalos to allow provincial buses into Metro Manila,” Rivera said.

He said their group also opposes the planned use of the Bocaue intermodal terminal as a prerequisite for the resumption of use of EDSA by provincial buses.

“First, that terminal is a potential super spreader and second, we are not pleased with the additional fares that we are to shoulder the minute this bus terminal goes operational,” they stressed.

“Imagine paying twice the fare only to enter and leave Metro Manila? Pandemic po ngayon at marami po sa amin ang walang trabaho at pinagkikitaan.
“President Duterte and members of the IATF,  as well as metro mayors—please make our Christmases merrier by allowing us to be with our loved ones this holiday season and beyond,” the group appealed. (Eva Visperas)

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