A QUEZON City lawmaker has urged the Metro Manila Development Authoriry (MMDA) to allow the Point-to-Point (P2P) buses, which will be deployed as an alternative to the glitch-plagued Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3, to use the Edsa zipper lane.
The so-called zipper lane allows southbound motorists to use the innermost northbound lane starting from Main Avenue in Cubao to Edsa-Ortigas flyover. This is said to rduce travel time for Makati-bound motorists.
Quezon City Fifth District Rep. Alfred Vargas, in a statement on Thursday, said he fully supports the government's decision to tap the P2P bus system to provide the MRT-3 patrons an alternarive ride during rush hour.
“We are in full support to P2P bus as this is a better option to the malfunctioning MRT trains, at least for now,” he said.
Vargas, however, stressed that these buses will be useless if commuters will be stuck in heavy traffic, pointing out that one of the reasons why the riding public prefers the MRT despite its glitches is that it is still a "faster" and a "more realiable" means of transportation.
Vargas also appealed to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to ensure that fare of these P2P buses will be affordable like the MRT.
The MMDA and the LTFRB recently announced that P2P buses will supplement MRT 3 starting November 10.
The government's program dubbed as "Alalay sa MRT-3" aims to provide the estimated 12 million commuters using the MRT an option while the Department of Transportation (DOTR) finds ways to improve the country's train system.
There will be 20 buses to be deployed from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m at the North Avenue Station. It will have only two stops: the Ortigas Station and Ayala Avenue Station.
In the afternoon rush hour or from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., there will be 20 buses to be deployed for passengers at the Taft Avenue Station, while 10 buses would be deployed at the Ayala Avenue Station.
All buses will drop off passengers only at one point, the North Avenue Station. (VoxPop Philippines)
