Group submits rapid bus transit plan to DOTC

Filipino consortium Philtrak Inc. submitted to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) its feasibility study for its rapid bus transit proposal for the Manila Bay area, Philtrak president and CEO  Francis Yuseco Jr. said on Friday.

The study covers a P500-million Philtrak rapid bus transit project and P463 million for an “elevated city” project in the Manila Bay area, including the Entertainment City Manila gaming complex.

Yuseco said the initial project, which will involve 10 buses capable of carrying 180 passengers each, could be operational within 15 to 18 months if it could get the DOTC’s approval within 60 days.

He added that implementing the project, as well as Philtrak’s other proposals for similar rapid bus transit systems on Commonwealth Avenue and Cebu City, would help provide an alternative to costly and money-losing railway projects, helping save the government billions of pesos in subsidies.

Philtrak will create a sinking fund computed at P1 per passenger a day to reverse the subsidies in favor of both the national and host local government, Philtrak noted in its proposal.

Meanwhile, passenger fare rates will be at par with non-airconditioned buses even if the rapid buses are all fully air-conditioned, traffic free, pollution free and colorum free, the company added.

The so-called loop 1 starts from the Buendia and Taft Avenue junction, then circles Mall of Asia to cover a distance of 5.3 kilometers.

The proposal calls for six elevated stations, all air-conditioned and equipped with elevators, escalators, ramps with consumer amenities, express banking facilities and convenience stores.

Tickets will be contactless and stored-value cards manufactured in the Philippines, Philtrak said.