Netizens and commuters called on the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday to cancel its implementation of the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. window hours for provincial buses, saying it will cause inconvenience to commuters traveling from nearby provinces to Metro Manila for work.

This, after the MMDA confirmed on its Facebook post on Thursday that the window hours scheme resumed on April 20 after the agency and provincial bus operators agreed to the request for extension, allowing all provincial buses to traverse Edsa and utilize their respective Metro Manila terminals 24/7 during the Holy Week until April 17.

It was further extended only until April 19.

“Dahil dyan ‘yung ibang luluwas no choice at magdadala na lang ng sariling sasakyan papuntang Manila. Ang resulta dagdag sasakyan sa NCR tapos mas traffic (Because of that, other travelers will be left with no choice but to drive their own vehicles going to Metro Manila, more vehicles will flock and there will be heavy traffic in the NCR),” said Jason Munsayac in his comment on MMDA’s Facebook post.

Jenny de la Cruz, a resident of Bulacan, appealed to the MMDA to reconsider.

“Pano naman kami araw-araw umuuwi ng Bulacan na sumasakay ng Baliwag transit? 9:00 a.m. pasok sa Manila kailangan sa work na uuwi sa 5 p.m. pabalik ng Bulacan. Isipin nyo ung oras nmin. Pinahihirapan nyo mga tao (How about us who are traveling back to Bulacan daily riding at Baliwag Transit? Our work starts at 9:00 a.m. in Manila and returns to Bulacan at 5:00 p.m. Think about our time. You are making it hard for the people),” she said.

Another netizen, Rhea David Manalang, commented that the agency should have thought about how commuters can go to terminals or highways.

“Hindi po lahat ng lugar ay may 24 hours na byahe ng jeep o tricycle. Mas pinapalala nyo lang lalo expenses nila sa pagluwas para mag-hanapbuhay (Not all places have a 24 hour public jeepney or tricycle operations. You are making them spend more on traveling to Metro Manila to work),” she said.

“Kayo po ay Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Dapat sa ikakaganda at ikabubuti ang mga plano nyo (You are Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. You are supposed to be planning for the better),” commented netizen Miguel Olaer.

In a statement, MMDA chair Romando Artes said provincial buses plying Metro Manila routes are available to commuters at all hours but are required to terminate their routes at the two major land terminals in the region outside the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. window hours.

He clarified that provincial buses are required to drop off the last of their passengers at the North Luzon Express Terminal (NLET) and the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) outside the said window hours based on the existing policies of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

“Provincial buses are not prohibited from operating beyond the said window hours, provided that they do not terminate the trips at their own terminals, and instead use the integrated terminals,” Artes said.

He said provincial bus operators were allowed to use their own terminals at all hours during the Holy Week which was later extended to Tuesday.

He noted that the MMDA’s role was to implement the traffic rules and regulations set by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the LTFRB.

In the last week of March, the MMDA began implementing the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. window hours for provincial buses which barred the use of their own terminals such as those along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.

LTFRB clarification

Meanwhile, the LTFRB clarified in a separate Facebook post on April 20 that it is not a party to the “gentleman’s agreement” between the MMDA and provincial bus operators.

“Sa umpisa pa lang, nais linawin ng LTFRB na hindi kasama ang ahensya sa nabanggit na kasunduan habang ito ay pinag-uusapan, ngunit ipinaalam naman ito noong nagkaroon ang MMDA ng dalawang linggong dry run ng nasabing window hour scheme, at nirerespeto ng aming ahensya ang naturang polisiya (The LTFRB was not party to the agreement while it was being discussed but we made this known when the MMDA held a two-week dry run on the window hour scheme and we respect the policy),” its Facebook post read.

Nonetheless, it reiterated that compliance with the MMDA window scheme does not mean their services is only from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

It added that permits to operate were given to provincial bus operators to transport passengers at any given time when there is passenger demand, and not only at night time.

Beyond the window hours, LTFRB said passengers may go to the following Integrated Terminal Exchange (ITX) where city buses are stationed to ferry passengers:

* PITX – Quezon, Region 4-A, MIMAROPA, and Bicol;

* PITX at Araneta Center Cubao – Region 4-A CALABARZON;

* NLET – Region 1, 2, and CAR;

* NLET and Araneta Center Cubao – Region 3; and

* SRIT – provincial buses from Visayas and Mindanao.

It also lamented reports of stranded passengers at the Dau Terminal waiting for provincial buses to Metro Manila.

The LTFRB said provincial bus operators should be responsible to abide by their agreement with the MMDA and its duties and responsibilities as a common carrier.

“Dahil sa kanilang hindi pagsunod, at lantarang paglabag sa kanilang mga special permit at Certificate of Public Convenience o CPC para mag-operate, tinitiyak ng pamunuan ng LTFRB na sila ay papanagutin sa tahasang paglabag na ito (For their non-compliance, which is a blatant violation of their special permits and certificate of public convenience or CPC to operate, the LTFRB will hold them accountable for this flagrant violation),” the LTFRB statement added. (PNA)