Express buses to roll out tomorrow

MANILA, Philippines - Shoppers and office workers going to Makati’s central business district from Quezon City can take express buses starting tomorrow, Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras said yesterday.

The 20 buses will have three routes: Trinoma to Park Square in Ayala Center (P80 fare, six buses deployed by Genesis Transport), SM North EDSA to Glorietta 5 in Ayala Center (P80 fare, 10 buses from Froehlich Tours) and SM Megamall to Park Square (P50 fare, four buses from Genesis Transport), he said, speaking to reporters following a meeting of the EDSA Traffic Technical Working Group.

The buses will also stop at major shopping destinations along EDSA, Almendras said.

“Motorists can simply park their vehicles at the parking buildings of shopping malls and take the express bus going to the other malls or to Makati’s central business district as these buses can enter the business district,” Almendras said.

The express buses, which will operate until Jan. 6, 2016, will be exempted from the number coding scheme and be covered by a special permit to operate from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

Almendras said an express bus departs from SM North EDSA and from Glorietta 5 every 30 minutes beginning at 6 a.m. The last bus in both directions will be at 10 p.m.

On weekends and holidays, the express buses depart in both directions at 9 a.m.

According to Almendras, the buses would leave every 30 minutes even if they are not full of passengers.