Salceda: Business interests behind Alabang bus terminal

MANILA, Philippines - Business interests are behind the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) decision that bans buses from Bicol and Southern Luzon from entering Metro Manila and only allows them up to a terminal in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said yesterday.

He said this is the only way to interpret the “sanity” behind the policy.

“You don’t usually pass Alabang from South Luzon Expressway to Metro Manila Skyway. Why put the common terminal there? If you disembark there as a commuter there it will create a passenger demand. There are about 500,000 commuters that will pass there once the LTFRB resolution will be approved,” Salceda said.

“As an economist I believe that passenger traffic will provide the driver in the construction of malls and a condominium there.”

He said someone is lobbying for the passage of the LTFRB memorandum circular.

“For me this is okay but not at the expense of the poor commuters from the provinces who will not only suffer the inconvenience but also a double payment of the minimum fare,” Salceda said during an interview after presiding over a full council meeting of the Regional Development Council Friday morning.  

LTFRB Winston Ginez said the Alabang common terminal was voluntarily offered to the LTFRB. “We considered it because the location is for buses coming from the south,” he said.

Last Monday, Salceda filed a petition with the Supreme Court, asking for a temporary restraining order on the implementation of the circular.