MMDA sets hours for buses to use flyovers

MANILA, Philippines - Reeling from the traffic jams generated by its order banning buses and trucks from using EDSA’s tunnels and flyovers, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday set window hours for the provincial buses to use the highway’s flyovers.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said provincial buses will be allowed to use the flyovers from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and then again from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.  The window hours are effective even during holidays and weekends, the MMDA said.

Tolentino also apologized to commuters and motorists who may have been inconvenienced by the MMDA’s order, which also orders all buses to stay inside EDSA’s yellow lane.

According to Tolentino, EDSA’s bus lanes were overwhelmed by the sheer volume of buses that were barred from using the flyovers and tunnels.

“We are fixing the bus dispatching system in Fairview, Alabang, Monumento and Baclaran so they do not come out at the same time,” he said.

Tolentino added that the MMDA will push for the relocation of provincial bus terminals outside of Metro Manila to decongest EDSA.

Meanwhile, the MMDA is calling on bus operators to support the new traffic scheme on EDSA.

Tolentino said some bus drivers, in the absence of traffic enforcers, tend to violate the rule and drive through EDSA’s flyovers and tunnels.

The MMDA is set to meet with bus operators at 9 a.m. today at its office in Makati City to thresh out issues on the recent directive, which took effect Sunday. Tolentino banned buses from EDSA’s flyovers and underpasses following a string of fatal road accidents.