Bicolanos commuting to and fro Manila are worried of the proposed closure by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) of the bus terminals along EDSA starting this April 2019.

At least 49 provincial bus terminals stationed along EDSA will be closed as a measure to decongest the heavy traffic in Metro Manila. These terminals include not only those going to Bicol but also other buses going to south of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Bicolano commuters, however, are protesting as the number of buses going to the provinces are but a small fraction of the vehicles that ply EDSA. Of the 367,728 vehicles that passed EDSA in 2018, only 12,283 are buses which include both Manila buses and provincial buses.

“Kung may public hearing, dapat ma-impormaran man kita ngani madangog man an boses ta,” said Regie Millena of Legazpi City. “Pero mas maray kun makiaram man an mga Congressman ta na yaon diyan sa Manila”.

The proposal to transfer the provincial bus terminals has been floated several years ago but has been delayed due to lobbying by bus operators. MMDA, however, appears firm this time to implement the measure as the heavy traffic in Metro Manila has become a challenge.

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