DOTr receptive to Caloocan transport hub pitch

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is open to the proposal of the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) operator to build an intermodal transport hub in Caloocan City to improve the commuting experience of the public.

Mark Steven Pastor, DOTr undersecretary for road transport and infrastructure, told reporters that establishing another hub in the northern part of Metro Manila could complement PITX, which is in the southern part of the region.

“It is very important. It is an absolute necessity for government so we can sort of follow the mechanism here in the south,” he said.

PITX head of corporate affairs and government relations Jason Salvador recently shared that Megawide Construction Corp., parent of PITX operator MWM Terminals Inc., was planning on submitting an unsolicited proposal for the said terminal.

The goal is to create a counterpart of PITX—the last station of the Edsa Busway system—in Monumento, which is the starting point of the busway’s route.

“If that is the case, of course, government will be appreciative of that,” Pastor said.

The DOTr official, however, said they have yet to discuss the pitch, which would be forwarded to the National Economic and Development Authority for review.

Megawide, meanwhile, is targeting to start the construction of a second terminal near PITX this year to address the demand for public transportation. INQ