Quezon City shuts down illegal bus terminal

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City government has closed down a bus terminal along Edsa for allegedly operating without the necessary permits.

City administrator Victor Endriga said he ordered the temporary closure of the terminal of Florida Bus along Edsa near Mega Q-Mart. The order was served Thursday night.

According to Endriga, the bus terminal did not have a building permit and a permit to operate from the city government, and no permit to operate along Edsa from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

Endriga explained that there has been an MMDA moratorium on the construction of bus terminals along Edsa since 1996. He cited that MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said in a letter dated Dec. 13 that the moratorium has not been lifted or revoked to allow a bus firm to construct a new bus terminal.

Endriga said the management of the bus terminal can seek the reopening of the terminal if it can comply with the requirements. The closure order was served amid the influx of passengers bound for the provinces before Christmas Eve, but Endriga said they still had to serve the order to secure the safety of the passengers.