MMDA to smooth out kinks in central bus terminal plan

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is hoping to iron out soonest the kinks in its plan to establish two central bus terminals for provincial buses. MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said he hopes to meet with Mayors Enrico Echeverri (Caloocan) and Canuto Oreta (Malabon) over a dispute on the location of the north terminal. "Yun na lang ang kaunting gusot, kung sa jurisdiction ng Caloocan o Malabon. Subali’t ang mayor ng Malabon at Caloocan, parehong payag kailangan magkaroon ng terminal. Palagay ko ito maaayos magkakaroon ng sunduan, ang importante interest ng kalahatan. Sana sa darating na araw maupuan naming tatlo yan," Tolentino said in an interview on dzBB radio. (It appears to be the major kink, whether the terminal would be under the jurisdiction of Caloocan or Malabon. But both mayors agreed on the need for a central terminal in the north. We can work this out, I hope to meet with them soon.) Earlier, the MMDA bared plans to establish central terminals for provincial buses in Metro Manila to decongest Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) and other major thoroughfares. According to Tolentino, the plan to build a central terminal in northern Metro Manila is hampered because the lot on which the proposed terminal will stand is the subject of a dispute between the cities of Caloocan and Malabon. "Immaterial sa ating kababayan kung ito Malabon, Valenzuela, Caloocan o Bulacan (But ultimately, it will be immaterial to commuters whether the lot falls under the jurisdiction of Caloocan, Valenzuela, Malabon, or even Bulacan)," he said. Meanwhile, Tolentino said they are still searching for a suitable lot in the south on which to build the southern central terminal. "Sa south, dalawang lugar ang pinagpipilian, mga detalye na lang inaayos (In the south, we are looking at two prospective locations. We are working out the details)," he said. He said they are eyeing October as a tentative date to start construction. — RSJ, GMA News