MMDA to lift number coding for PUBs?

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is eyeing the possible lifting of the number coding scheme for public utility buses (PUBs) in exchange for order among their ranks along EDSA.

MMDA Executive Director for Traffic Angelito Vergel de Dios said yesterday that the offer was presented to the bus operators participating in the controlled dispatch program as an incentive for order along the major thoroughfare.

The dry-run of the program is expected to commence in one to two weeks depending on how fast the asphalting of the Redemptorist Road in Baclaran is completed.

Vergel de Dios said the lifting of the unified vehicular volume reduction program, more commonly known as the number coding scheme, would be a huge incentive for the PUBs as this provides them an opportunity to earn more.

The PUBs were originally exempted from the number coding scheme but this had to be revised after traffic situation along the major thoroughfares worsened due to the large volume of vehicles on the road.

With the implementation of the controlled dispatch program, the buses will not be out on the road at the same time competing for the limited number of commuters.

At the end point of the routes, the buses would have to queue up at designated central terminals for dispatching back on the road.

The speed of dispatching would depend on the requirements of the commuters on the road which will be monitored by both the bus operators and the MMDA.

Verge de Dios said the buses would be able to get an equal share of passengers under the scheme as the dispatched buses would not be allowed to overtake each other.

The yellow lane for buses would also be strictly enforced during the implementation of the program.

Vergel de Dios said this would ensure order among the ranks of the buses and hopefully alleviate traffic along EDSA.

For the dry-run, the MMDA has identified Redemptorist Road as the terminal to be used for the Baclaran-bound buses.

The farthest point for the terminal in the south is Alabang in Muntinlupa City, but the MMDA is still negotiating for the use of a piece of property at the Metropolis Mall area.

Another terminal for the Pasay-Baclaran routes will also be set up at the Public Estates Authority property along Roxas Boulevard but this is still being developed for the purpose.

In the northern section of Metro Manilia, the MMDA is looking at setting up similar terminals at Fairview in Quezon City, Marikina City, Letre Road and Valenzuela City.

The bus operators have already submitted the proposed scheme for the controlled dispatched program for the approval of the MMDA.

Only the participants of the program would be allowed to operate along EDSA in order to eliminate the colorum and out of line bus units.

According to the bus operators, around half of the total number of buses operating in Metro Manila are colorum.