Bus group welcomes MMDA microchip policy

A bus transport group on Monday said it welcomes the "microchip policy" of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) geared toward curbing the proliferation of colorum buses, but reminded the enforcement agency to clean its ranks as well. "That's very good especially if it's going to control colorum buses," Clair dela Fuente, Integrated Metro Bus Operation Association (Imboa) president, said of the latest policy requiring bus operators to have their units installed with microchips from the MMDA. However, Dela Fuente stressed in her interview on radio dzMM that even with the implementation of the new policy, she expects that it will still be the legal operators who will ultimately receive the beating from MMDA personnel. She noted that with no more illegal or colorum buses to apprehend, traffic law enforcers, to meet their day's "quota," will resort to taking aim at legal operators even for petty violations. "Kasi binibigyan ang mga enforcers ng quota ng mga boss nila. Para lang makasunod sa quota kami ang sinasaktan kami ang inaapakan. May konting basag lang ang windshield side mirrors, huhulihin na. Sinasabi na ng mga boss nila, 'Pwede ba ang hulihin niyo ay yung colorum.' Pero kami pa rin ang huhulihin nila," she explained. (Enforcers are given quotas by their bosses. In order to meet their quota, we are the ones being trampled upon. Bus drivers are apprehended even for a minor break in a bus's windshield or side mirrors. Their bosses are already telling them to focus on colorum vehicles but they would still apprehend legal operators) "Siguro dapat palitan lahat ang ating enforcers. Kung ako masusunod gusto ko puro babae para hindi masyadong tumatanggap (Maybe we should replace our enforcers. If I were to be asked, I would prefer having female enforcers who doesn't mulct that much)," Dela Fuente quipped. However, Dela Fuente said they will still work together with the MMDA to rid the streets with illegal operators, noting the agencies efforts in launching anti-mulcting and anti-colorum drives. She added that while they approve of MMDA's latest measure, they have yet to discuss the details of the policy with MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando. "I know about the microchip pero hindi ko alam kung papaano yan (gumagana), kailan yan (ipapatupad). Dapat yan imbitahan nila kami and then i-coconsult kami (I know about the microchip but I don't know how it works and when the policy will be effective. The MMDA should invite us for a consultation)," she said. Dela Fuente also expressed concern over the price of each chip, saying that the MMDA should assure bus operators that the device would not be expensive, if not give it free of charge. "Ang problema lang natin ay kung may kamahalan yan, eh medyo problema yan sa operators. Medyo kakausapin pa natin ang mga operators diyan (Our only problem is if the chips are expensive. That would be a problem to operators. We will have to talk with operators regarding that issue)," she added. The installment of Radio Frequency Identification Chips to public utility buses is part of a bigger MMDA measure called the Organized Bus Route (OBR), aimed at monitoring the movement of buses plying EDSA and other major thoroughfares in Metro Manila. Under the OBR program, buses are required to line up in various terminals put up by the MMDA in different areas in the metropolis. They will be dispatched depending on the number of commuters on the road. Each terminal and loading bay are equipped with tracking device and cameras that will monitor every bus operating in Metro Manila. - GMANews.TV