Lagunenses will soon have the chance to get that dream vacation to Baguio City, without the hassle of commuting to Metro Manila.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has opened up three new interprovincial bus routes connecting Calamba City with three prime destinations in Northern Luzon.
LTFRB Board Resolutions No. 346 and 383, released last November and December, aims to fulfill the national government's objectives of "improving regional mobility, promoting balanced economic development, and providing adequate, efficient and safe transportation service."
Alternative routes
According to the LTFRB, HM Transport, Inc., a major bus company operating in Laguna province, has submitted several proposals for viable alternative routes to the Natural Gas Vehicle Program for Public Transport (NGVPPT), under which the company was a participant.
The NGVPPT, which was started in 2002 to encourage the use of alternative fuel resources, was discontinued in the 2010's due to recurring constraints in the supply of compressed natural gas (CNG) as well as the imposition of local ordinances restricting bus entry into the City of Manila.
Based on studies conducted by the board, three bus routes were found to be operationally viable, complementary to existing services, and aligned with prevailing transport policies:
- Calamba City, Laguna-Baguio City
Calamba City, Laguna-Iba, Zambales via Olongapo City
Calamba City, Laguna-Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
While it remains to be seen which bus companies will operate its routes or whether HM Transport will be allowed to operate its original proposed route of Calamba City-Baguio City, it is expected that these new routes will become operational in 2026.
Currently, the nearest public terminal where residents of Southern Luzon can board buses to Northern and Central Luzon is the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).
The bus rationalization system that was implemented in Metro Manila in 2020 has also resulted in the loss of direct access between Laguna province and major bus terminals in Cubao, Quezon City.
However, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to begin the construction of the Monte de Piedad Busway station, which will provide direct access from the EDSA Busway to bus terminals in Cubao, later this year.
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