‘This is prohibition,’ says Topacio on new bus scheme
by Mary Adrian Bautista
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| The Southwest Integrated Terminal in Coastal Mall, Parañaque City, was implemented as a central terminal for all buses coming from Cavite and Batangas to assist MMDA’s newly implemented bus scheme. Photo source: www.Inquirer.net |
“This is only a resolution. This regulation violates the franchise [of bus operators]. This is not just regulation. This is prohibition. It disregards the franchise of buses, especially those going to Fairview and Baclaran,”
This was a statement made by Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, the lawyer of the bus drivers and operators, for the new bus rerouting scheme that was implemented by the city government of Manila last July 30, Monday.
The rerouting scheme is for the provincial buses that are entering the City of Manila as the resolution of the city’s government and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to ease the traffic and to diminish colorum buses. Many bus drivers and operators were against to the said scheme because it lessens their profit. Together with their lawyer, Atty. Topacio, the bus drivers and operators tried to enter Manila despite of the provision, resulting to their impoundment.
The Southwest Integrated Terminal (SWIT) was opened August 6 in Parañaque City intended to be the bus station for provincial buses coming from Cavite and Batangas to assist the new rerouting scheme. Buses affected by the scheme are only allowed to stay in the SWIT.
Because of this new bus scheme, many buses from Cavite opted on taking Manila-Cavite Expressway (CavitEx) which resulted into the reduction of transportation to reach the City of Bacoor. Such actions had made the Dominicans who rides the affected bus frachises in go to school to take other forms of transportation (i.e. baby bus).
