LTFRB, DOTC launch Alabang-Makati P2P bus route

The government on Monday launched a new point-to-point (P2P) premium bus service route from Alabang to Makati.

"Today is the official start," Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chair Winston M. Ginez said in a text message to GMA News.

The pick-up points for winning operator RRCG Transport are at Alabang Town Center (ATC) and Greenbelt 1 in Makati City.

Seven buses are registered under the route, Ginez noted.

Trips from ATC are from 06:00 a.m. to 08:30 p.m., and trips from Greenbelt 1 are from 07:00 a.m. to 09:30 p.m., with 30-minute intervals.

The trips are from Monday to Saturday, and are expected to cater to residents of south Metro Manila and parts of Cavite.

"Each single deck bus will move likely 300 passengers a day or more. With the initial seven buses deployed by RRCG we expect about 2,000+ riders daily," Ginez said.

He noted, however, it may take some time to reach this capacity.

"Of course, it will take a few months for the demand to ramp up to this level, but we are confident that there are many commuters that will want to use the P2P  bus day after day," he added.

In a separate statement, Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya noted that new route cuts travel time between Alabang and Makati.

"Residents from southern Metro Manila and parts of Cavite will now have a more convenient transportation option that will provide them significant travel time saving and enhanced passenger experience when traveling to the central business district," he said.

"We hope that other bus operators will also join us in our bid to raise the standards for public transportation by offering higher quality services to commuters," he added. – VDS, GMA News