Parañaque-mall dispute won't disrupt MMDA bus terminal ops

MANILA, Philippines - The operations at the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority's Southwest Interim Bus Terminal on the grounds of the Uniwide Coastal Mall in Parañaque City will not be affected should the Parañaque City government take control of the mall building for unpaid building improvement taxes now amounting to P500 million.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino on Tuesday said  that the lease agreement entered into by the MMDA for the use of the bus terminal only covers tbe malls's parking lot which is adjacent to the mall and not the mall building.

"We would appreciate it more if the mall building is not there as there will be more room for buses and commuters to move around," said Tolentino.

Tolentino also said the integrated bus terminal is only temporary and a permanent bus terminal would be made operational within the next six months. Tolentino said it would take the Parañaque City government at least years to take possession of the Uniwide Coastal Mall.

The MMDA had earlier announced that it would be putting up additional improvements and amenities in the terminal to make it more acceptable to bus commuters from Cavite and Batangas.

Among the improvements and adjustments to be completed and implemented at the terminal next week are: covered walkway from Roxas Boulevard/Coastal Road footbridge to the terminal, covered walkway from the terminal to the adjacent city bus terminal, a taxi bay at the terminal exit along MIA Road, and widening of the terminal’s MIA Road exit towards the Coastal Road to serve as exclusive lane for Cavite-bound buses.

In addition, the MMDA will also be installing exhaust fans, drinking fountains and additional loading/unloading bays.

Tolentino also said the MMDA is expediting the construction of Terminal 2 near the staging area for buses plying Aguinaldo Highway. The MMDA will also be making a separate dispatch system for air-conditioned and ordinary buses, Tolentino said.

“For faster turnaround of buses at the terminal, bus drivers will now be required to undergo fingerprint scanning only once per day, instead of every trip,” he said.

Tolentino also said the fingerprint scanning will address the long queues at the terminal’s dispatch office where bus drivers have to secure a dispatch slip.

“The faster they load passengers and leave the terminal, the more trips they will be making per day which means higher earnings for them,” Tolentino said.

Tolentino also said he wants the bus drivers and conductors to be self-sustaining to earn extra income. He had encouraged transport cooperatives to put up canteens or food stalls at the terminal for free.

“Everybody needs to cooperate to have an orderly and disciplined public transport system for the benefit of the riding public,” Tolentino said.