Organized bus route on EDSA starts today

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is keeping its fingers crossed that the Public Utility Bus (PUB) drivers would be able to follow the Organized EDSA Bus Route (OBR), which will be implemented starting today.

"There’s no assurance of how well the drivers are prepared for the OBR. We’ll only see it if they are able to implement it properly and they are able to follow the instructions," MMDA Traffic Operating Center (TOC) Executive Director, Angelito Vergel de Dios, said yesterday.

The OBR or the single dispatch system finally starts today, after several months of preparation and at least two postponements of its re-launch.

The OBR was first implemented last August but did not even last a day because of the confusion it created among the bus drivers.

The MMDA decided to conduct seminars for all 6,000 bus drivers to teach them the mechanics of the scheme.

On the agency’s radio show on DzBB yesterday, MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando warned drivers they would be fined if they violate any of the OBR’s rules.

Drivers are not allowed to overtake each other on the yellow lane and are supposed to surrender the queue cards to the dispatchers.

De Dios said violators will be fined P1,000 for the first offense, their licenses suspended for the second offense, and finally revoked on the third offense.

North East Metro Bus Operators Group (NEMBOG) vice-president, Gary Alvin Peñalosa, noted that the drivers are apprehensive that there might be another confusion with the distribution and surrender of the queue cards.

Peñalosa added that drivers are still worried that the OBR would cut down their trips and affect their income.

De Dios said the queue cards would be distributed in 20 dispatching booths spread throughout EDSA, such as Mantrade in the southern portion of Metro Manila and Ever Gotesco Commonwealth in the north.

The MMDA will also have 140 traffic enforcers to facilitate the distribution and collection of the queue cards.

The five OBR terminals or endpoints are in Navotas, Baclaran, FTI, Malanday and Novaliches.

The OBR aims to control the number of PUBs plying the EDSA as a way to decongest traffic on the busy highway.