DOTr in talks with Victory Liner for possible north terminal exchange PPP —Bautista

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is in talks with bus conglomerate Victory Liner for a possible public-private partnership (PPP) to put up an integrated multi-modal terminal exchange in the northern part of the National Capital Region (NCR).

At the Bagong Pilipinas Town Hall Meeting on Traffic Concerns convened by President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in San Juan City on Wednesday, Bautista cited the importance of integrated transport exchanges in addressing traffic congestion, highlighting the experience in the establishment of the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).

“Dito po sa north, nagtitingin din tayo ng possible location. Ang possible pong location nito ay iyong dito sa Victory Liner, mayroon pong seven hectares property dito…we had the initial discussion with the owners of Victory Liner,” he said. 

(In the north, we are looking for a possible location. The possible location would be in Victory Liner’s seven-hectare property… we had the initial discussion with the owners of Victory Liner.)

“Kailangan po magkaroon tayo noong tinatawag na public-private partnership with the owners. So, ito po ang tinitingnan natin ngayon and kung sakaling matuloy po ito ay hihingi kami sa LGU para mapabilis natin iyong pag-i-issue ng mga permit,” the Transport chief said.

(We need to have a public-private partnership with the owners. So, we are looking into this and if this pushes through we will seek the help of the LGU to hasten the issuance of permits.)

The DOTr chief said the Transportation Department is also working closely with the National Economic and Development Authority “for us to be able to get the approval for this project.”

Bautista said the cost of the project would be hefty “so it will require NEDA approval.”

The government is also working on a similar integrated terminal exchange in Taguig City in cooperation with the Ayala Group, according to Bautista.

Project status update on the PPP Center showed the P5.20-billion Taguig Integrated Terminal Exchange Project is now undergoing pre-construction activities with ongoing finalization of traffic management plan and detailed engineering design.

The project is being undertaken by its proponent ARCA South Integrated Terminal Inc. and Ayala Land Inc.

For his part, Marco Del Pilar, the representative of the Provincial Bus Operators of the Philippines, sought the government’s support for the construction and future expansion of terminal exchange facilities similar to PITx.

Del Pilar asked the government to simplify the facilitation of construction and building permits involving transit-oriented projects, as well as the provision of tax incentives to ensure the financial viability of such undertakings. — BM, GMA Integrated News