Republic of the Philippines HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Quezon City FIFTEENTH CONGRESS First Regular Session HOUSE RESOLUTION No.

1416 ______________________________________________________________________________ Introduced by Reps. TEDDY A. CASIO and NERI JAVIER COLMENARES, RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE PROPOSED INTEGRATED BUS TERMINAL SYSTEM OF THE METROPOLITAN MANILA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY WHEREAS, on May 27, reports came out that the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is looking into creating an integrated transportation system similar to that of South Korea by implementing a prepaid scheme for buses and jeepneys and setting up a centralized terminal. MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said, This is the part of the directive of President Aquino to have the integrated bus terminals that will house provincial buses coming from the north and south of the capital. The two integrated bus terminals will provide ease and convenience to the riding public. They will also declog EDSA of bus terminals; WHEREAS, two weeks later, MMDA announced that it wants to create a Metro Manila-Provincial Integrated Bus Axis System (MMPBAS) by the end of 2011. The integration of other modes of public transport is also expected; WHEREAS, according to reports, provincial buses will not be allowed to ply Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) under the said system. While the Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines (PBOAP) lauded MMDAs intention, they pointed out that the agency did not even study the possible impacts on the commuters. The group said commuters will probably not find it convenient since they would have to ride another bus or jeepney to get into the city or to the terminal. The same was expressed by commuters interviewed by media; WHEREAS, while South Korea was able to implement their system within a year, it would be impractical and baseless to say that the Philippines would be able to put into practice the same system in six months. In fact, the Light Rail Transit and Metro Rail Transit lines have long been unable to implement an integrated ticketing system; WHEREAS, proper consultation with passengers, the most affected sector, should have been arranged before everything else, especially with the possibility that they will be burdened by higher transport costs;

WHEREAS, Congress should look into the matter given the proposed systems need for appropriation, management and regulation. It should ensure that such a system would not be hastily executed without due study and consideration of the publics interest; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Committee on Transportation conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the proposed integrated bus terminal system of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Adopted,

TEDDY A. CASIO Bayan Muna Party-list

NERI JAVIER COLMENARES Bayan Muna Party-list