The new policy of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority limiting access of provincial buses on NCR roads speaks of its callousness and lack of compassion for commuters, many of them senior citizens, retirees and children.
The policy of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority limiting access of provincial buses to roads in the National Capital Region from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. only will result in congestion and spread of the virus aside from causing inconvenience and hardship for commuters.
Rep. Rodolfo Ordanes of Senior Citizen Partylist said he rejects this new policy, which is bereft of compassion for the poor commuters.
MMDA is raising COVID surge risks aside from showing its lack of compassion for travelers, including the elderly, said Ordanes.
"Pinahihirapan nila ang seniors at mga bata sa pagbiyahe. Baka makasagap pa ng COVID dahil siksikan sa bus at mga terminal. Hindi rin ito dumaan sa maayos na konsultasyon sa mga pasahero," declared Ordanes who is vice-chair of the House Committee on Metro-Manila Development.
Ordanes argued that the new MMDA policy on provincial buses is "congesting bus terminals thereby adding to high risk of a new COVID surge."
"The provincial bus policy also reveals MMDA's lack of compassion to travelers, many of whom are seniors, retirees, and children," Ordanes said.
"By limiting the buses' access to NCR roads, MMDA packs into 10pm to 5am the tens of thousands who would have traveled outside the access time window," he added.
Ordanes said, "whoever thought of this policy must go back to elementary school to study Math all over again and retake Values Education."
"MMDA is supposed to have engineers who are experts on Math," he also said.
His suggested that to decongest EDSA, MMDA must cut by 50 percent the tollway fees on elevated roads.
"Lower toll fees on elevated roads like Skyways will shift many vehicles off the ground level roads, making space for the provincial buses."
"Give the provincial buses access to the bus lanes and carousel routes," Ordanes also pitched.
He also recommended creating alternate north-south routes for car drivers to follow so they need not take EDSA.
Tags: #MMDA, #callousness, #provincialbuspolicy, #transportation