MMDA eyes ‘purging’ of bus franchises

Following Monday’s bus strike that left more than 8,000 commuters stranded in Metro Manila, authorities are considering a purge of bus franchises to weed out rogue operators. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino said he may seek Congress’ help in canceling all franchises and having operators apply for new ones. “Kagaya ng sa Comelec pag may flying voters, double registrants at double entries, kina-cancel ang book of voters at nagsisimula ng bagong registration para malinis ang book of voters. Ganito rin siguro sa prangkisa. Kung kakanselahin natin lahat, magsimula silang mag-apply uli para start from zero, at malaman sino ang legal, illegal, colorum at karapat-dapat," he said in an interview on dwIZ radio. (Just like in the Commission on Elections, if there are flying voters and double registrants, the book of voters is canceled and a new registration is held. In our case, we can junk the list of franchises and have all operators apply for new franchises. That way we can start from zero and screen out the rogue and colorum operators.) MMDA spokeswoman Tina Velasco hinted at a similar proposal as she said it would be better if “we can start from scratch." “Maybe if we can start from scratch, mas maigi sana yan (If we can start from scratch, it would be better)," she said in a separate interview on dzXL radio. But Tolentino said they will need the help of Congress in legislating the nullification of the existing franchises. He added parties concerned may bring it up at a traffic management summit that government is organizing for December 3. Tolentino made the suggestion days after bus operators opposing the MMDA’s number-coding scheme for buses stopped plying Metro Manila’s main thoroughfares Monday. Initial findings by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board showed 100 of 140 bus operators did not ply their routes in Metro Manila last Monday. Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) was expected to deliver show-cause orders to bus firms that did not ply their routes. Radio dzBB’s Allan Gatus reported the bus firms that will get such orders should explain why they should not be sanctioned for their no-show last Monday, causing inconvenience to commuters. — LBG, GMANews.TV