MMDA, Muntinlupa open Alabang South Terminal

MANILA, Philippines - Some 236 provincial buses from the Southern Tagalog, Bicol and Visayas barred by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) from entering Metro Manila past Muntinlupa can now have the South Interim Provincial Terminal (SIPT) in Alabang as their new terminal.

The terminal located at the Filinvest area was originally supposed to start operations on August 20.

Muntinlupa Mayor Jaime Fresnedi, and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Francis Tolentino opened the terminal with a ceremonial tagging of three provincial buses from Lemery, Batangas and Legazpi, Albay.

The MMDA earlier said it would be “tagging” or attaching identification stickers on a total of 556 provincial buses that would be using the SIPT.

According to MMDA assistant general manager for operations Emerson Carlos, the stickers will help identify the buses allowed to use the SIPT which are permitted to enter Metro Manila up to Alabang only.

“Para maidentify yung mga provincial buses na dapat hanggang Alabang na lang, stickers will be placed on each of the buses. Initially 200 buses muna hanggang macomplete namin ung 556 buses,” he said.

Carlos said unlike the Southwest Interim Provincial Terminal at the Coastal Mall area  in Paranaque City for Cavite bound buses which is being managed by the MMDA at Parañaque City, the Alabang South Terminal will be operated by the Muntinlupa City government.

Last August 14, the mayors of the cities in south Metro Manila, the MMDA and the LTFRB have agreed to restrict the entrance into Metro Manila of some 556 out-of-line provincial buses from  Southern Luzon and the Visayas  up to Alabang in Muntinlupa City only.

Tolentino said these 556 buses have earlier been identified by the LTFRB as those that have franchises to ply the Market Market and Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) routes but do not have terminals in these places. 

Tolentino said these buses then become “out-of-line” buses as they head to terminals at the Araneta Center in Cubao or in Sampaloc, Manila, which are not their original franchises.

“Ito yung naidentify ng LTFRB na nag-out-of line. Ngayon may 556 na bumabagtas sa EDSA laging nahuhuli to o ngayon ay llilimitahan hanggang Alabang. Ibibgay sa amin kung sino sino ang mga ito,” said Tolentino.

LTFRB Chair Winston Ginez said the MMDA has allowed these out-of-line buses to use the terminal located at Filinvest area.

“Ang mga nag-o-outline ay either pumupunta na sa Araneta, sa Cubao sa Sampaloc. Nagkasundo na sa Alabang na lang instead of Market Market. Up to Alabang lang. Ang franchise nila ay up to Market Market at FTI, pero wala pang terminals doon,” Ginez said.

Meanwhile, some 583 out-of-line southern provincial buses would still be allowed to enter Manila on Wednesday as their end-points are in Plaza Lawton.

The MMDA said the Alabang terminal for the 556 out-of-line buses is just temporary pending the completion of the FTI terminal. Once completed, the 556 buses will use the FTI terminal.

Meanwhile, the MMDA has deployed additional traffic enforcers at the vicinity of the SIPT to help direct traffic.

The MMDA has advised affected buses to take the Filinvest exit from the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and proceed to the Alabang South Station to drop off commuters. From the Alabang South Station, provincial buses must take the Alabang viaduct to enter the SLEX.

According to the MMDA, bus passengers can easily transfer to city buses parked just across the drop off points of the provincial buses in the terminal.