Provincial buses allowed on EDSA from April 6 to 10 amid Holy Week —MMDA

Provincial buses can use EDSA from April 6 to 10 in light of the expected influx of passengers during the Holy Week, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Friday.

The MMDA added that provincial buses will also be allowed on EDSA from April 3 to 5 but only from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

“Provincial buses coming from North Luzon shall terminate their trips at the bus terminals in Cubao, Quezon City,” the MMDA said in a statement.

“Meanwhile, provincial buses coming from South Luzon shall terminate their trips at the bus terminals in Pasay City.”

According to the MMDA, provincial buses are allowed to traverse EDSA so they can accommodate more passengers going to the provinces for the Lenten season.

This is also to ensure the convenience and comfort of the commuters, the MMDA said.

Since 2019, the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has banned provincial buses on EDSA.

LTFRB Memorandum 2019-031 directs all provincial buses coming from the north with terminals along EDSA are to end stop at the Valenzuela Interim Terminal.

Those coming from South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao with terminals along EDSA in Cubao, Quezon City will end their trips at the Sta. Rosa Interim Terminal.

Buses coming from South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao with terminals along EDSA in Pasay City will end at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).

The order also complemented the closure of provincial bus terminals along EDSA to ease traffic congestion on Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare.

NLEX

In a related development, traffic along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and NLEX Connector remains light on the last Friday morning before Holy Week.

According to NLEX Corp. Traffic Operations Department Head Robin Ignacio, they expect the bulk of Holy Week travelers on the afternoon and evening of Holy Wednesday until the afternoon of Maundy Thursday.

But Ignacio said they have beefed up their deployment of patrol vehicles, tellers, traffic marshalls, and security personnel starting Friday.

NLEX Corp expects travelers to return starting Easter Sunday, with the volume peaking from the afternoon of April 10 until the early morning of April 11.

"Nakahanda naman kami sa NLEX na kung maaaring mangyaring tataas ang volume mamaya. Pero ang ine-expect natin talaga na mataas ang volume ay Wednesday afternoon pa hanggang evening. And then mas mataas pa rin ng early morning ng Thursday hanggang early afternoon," Ignacio told GMA Integrated News.

(We in NLEX are ready if ever the volume of motorists increases later today. But we are expecting such volume on Wednesday afternoon to evening, and then on Thursday morning to afternoon.)

Motorists who encounter problems while on NLEX may seek the assistance of any NLEX personnel or call the 135000 hotline.

Ignacio said they will be offering free towing services for stalled Class 1 vehicles to the nearest exit.

"Mas mainam pa rin po na mag-check sila ng kanilang mga sasakyan para nasa tamang kondisyon. Gayundin po 'yung magda-drive," Ignacio advised motorists.

(It's good to check first the condition of the vehicle as well as the driver.)

He also advised motorists to avoid the peak periods. —Joviland Rita and Tina Panganiban-Perez/KBK, GMA Integrated