LTFRB tags bus firms to be based in Alabang

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said Tuesday a total of 556 buses were ready for the opening of the South Station in Alabang, Muntinlupa, but it noted that Muntinlupa City has yet to give the final go-signal.

In a meeting Tuesday with officials of Muntinlupa City Hall, LTFRB representatives submitted the list of buses that would be using the South Station bus terminal in Alabang.

LTFRB chair Winston Ginez said the agency’s main function was to make sure that the more than 500 additional buses would have legitimate bus routes from South Luzon Expressway to the south terminal. Once fully operational, the bus units will be issued proper identifying marks, such as sticker or tags, to avoid confusion.

“Mayor Fresnedi and I already discussed the details of the memorandum circular (MC) that we will be releasing this week. This will give them a list of all buses that are allowed to use the South Station Bus Terminal,” Ginez said.

He added that the LTFRB, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and City of Manila would sit down to discuss the identification and tagging of buses allowed to drop off and pick up passengers in the area.

“We will leave the traffic management and apprehension of traffic violators to the MMDA and the city of Muntinlupa,” Ginez said.

The LTFRB will wait for the final approval of Muntinlupa City to make sure that all operations are well coordinated to ensure a smooth flow of traffic in the area, Ginez said.

LTFRB said that the 583 buses with routes ending in Lawton, Manila, could still drop off or pick up passengers in the area pending talks involving Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto, and representatives of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Philippine National Construction Corp. for a designated staging area for buses without terminals on LRT/Buendia Ave.