Buy out bus operators in Metro Manila, Sotto tells MMDA

To avoid inconvenience for commuters, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) should buy out the bus operators and monopolize bus operations in the national capital region, Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said Monday. Sotto made the suggestion after bus operators staged a strike on Monday to oppose the number-coding scheme for buses passing through the major thoroughfares of Metro Manila. "Ang akin, ang MMDA hanapan na lang ng pondo at bilhin na silang lahat, buyout na sila. Kung baga sa lupa, 'i-expropriate' muna itong mga bus operators. Gawin mong lahat ng bus patatakbuhin ng gobyerno," Sotto told reporters. (In my opinion, the MMDA should look for funds and buy them all out. If it were land, government should "expropriate" the bus operators and operate the bus lines.) The senator said the government could also consider putting bus drivers on its payroll. This would lessen vehicular accidents because drivers would not have to race against one another to get more passengers. "Hindi na magmamadali sa boundary, so hindi magbabanggaan, hindi na magiging reckless, hindi magiging barumbado," he explained. (They would no longer rush during their trips just to meet their boundary. They also wouldn't be reckless on the road, thus lessening accidents.) He also urged Congress to review the franchise of the bus operators in Metro Manila. - KIM TAN/VVP, GMANews.TV