Rough start for EDSA bus scheme

The Organized EDSA Bus Route (OBR) or the single dispatch system was off to a rough start yesterday, but the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and bus operators were hopeful that they could make the scheme work to everyone’s benefit.

"As expected, magulo. But it’s encouraging because we were able to make the buses line up in a single file. That in itself is already an achievement," MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando told reporters.

Leaders of two big bus organizations also expressed satisfaction with the OBR yesterday, but noted that the queuing system was quite confusing.

"We want it to succeed but we should also be logical about it. We should work it out according to the needs of the public," Claire de la Fuente, president of the Integrated Metro Bus Operators Association (IMBOA), told The STAR.

In separate interviews, De la Fuente and Gary Alvin Peñalosa, vice president of the North East Metro Bus Operators Group (Nembog), pointed out that the buses must be allowed to overtake each other, especially when they are already filled with passengers.

After witnessing the problems himself during an ocular inspection of the Baclaran terminal in Parañaque with the bus operators, Fernando agreed to implement only "partial systems" of the OBR while the scheme is being perfected.

Fernando said the queue cards, which was designed to control the flow of the buses on EDSA, would be issued from one terminal to another for the meantime.

Originally, queue cards were to be issued and surrendered at every loading stations throughout the highway.

Fernando also said buses will be allowed to overtake each other, but must still queue at the loading stations, which are "high passenger areas."

Buses would still be timed while they load and unload passengers.

Even with these concessions, Fernando warned that erring bus drivers would still be apprehended and fined by the MMDA.

De la Fuente agreed that the timing of the dispatch to EDSA, whether there are waiting passengers or not, is very important.

For his part, Peñalosa said there was still a need for intensive public information, especially for the passengers.