MMDA inspects bus terminal in Coastal Mall

MANILA, Philippines - Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino on Thursday inspected the bus dispatch terminal at the Coastal Mall in Parañaque City that started operating last July 9 using the Bus Management and Dispatch System (BMDS).

The BMDS, said the MMDA, is an enhanced bus dispatch system that does not only regulate the number of public utility buses (PUBs) in EDSA but will also monitor the drivers manning them through biometrics or finger-scanning to verify their profile even before they leave the terminal.

Tolentino said the BMDS will ensure that no colorum or out-of-line bus units will be on EDSA as the system verifies the license plates of buses from the database of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

The system was earlier launched by the MMDA at a bus dispatch terminal in Fairview, Quezon City. Two more major terminals in Malabon and Alabang were established with 10 satellite stations all over Metro Manila.

“The system also aims to ensure the safety of commuters as only drivers with less than three pending traffic violations will be dispatched from the terminal; those with more than three should settle their traffic violation tickets first before being allowed to ply their routes,” Tolentino said.

The Coastal Mall terminal will cover more than 900 buses. A total of 5,862 city buses have registered in the database, which is also linked with other agencies such as the Land Transportation Office, LTFRB, and National Bureau of Investigation.