DOTC in search for locations for Integrated Transport System

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has started its search for possible locations for the Integrated Transport System, a project that will entail the construction of common provincial bus terminals in the North and South end points of Metro Manila.

In a statement, the DOTC said parties that have properties with an area ranging from 3 to 7 hectares can send their formal proposals to the DOTC office in Mandaluyong.

“The DOTC is inviting lot owners ranging from 3 to 7 hectares located within Metro Manila (or within a reasonable distance outside) to submit proposals for the use of their lots as prospective provincial bus terminals for its Integrated Transport System (ITS) Project,” the DOTC said.

It added: “Lots located near NLEX in the North and near the Coastal Road/Macapagal Highway and SLEX in the South, and located 300 meters from the nearest train station (LRT, MRT, or PNR), are preferred.”

The DOTC said it will accept proposals up to April 16. Interested parties may address their proposals to Atty. Rene K. Limcaoco, Undersecretary for Planning, Unit 169, 16F The Columbia Tower, Brgy. Wack Wack, Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong.

The DOTC invitation, however, clarified that as per government policy on request for proposals, the Transportation Department assumes no responsibility to compensate or indemnify interested parties for expenses occurred in the preparation of proposals.

It also said: “The DOTC reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals, to annul or cancel the invitation process at any time prior to selection, impose additional terms and conditions and accept the proposal most advantageous to the Government without thereby incurring any liability to the affected interested party/parties.”

The ITS is an offshoot of the President’s Executive Order No. 67, which calls for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the ITS. The ITS will put up a bus terminal north of Metro Manila for provincial buses with Northern Luzon routes and two in the south, one near the South Luzon Expressway and another near the Coastal Road/Cavitex for provincial buses with Southern Luzon routes.

The ITS project is meant to reduce traffic congestion in the Metropolis because having common provincial bus terminals will do away with the need for provincial buses to ply the roads of Metro Manila.

Citing figures from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), there are a total of 13,067 buses that ply Metro Manila roads daily. Nearly 60 percent of these, or a total of 7,368, are provincial buses.

Additionally, there are 85 provincial bus terminals located in Metro Manila; more than half, or 46, are located along EDSA.

Secretary of Transportations and Communications Mar Roxas earlier said apart from the reduced volume of vehicles, the ITS will make commuting to the provinces more convenient because these will be linked to other available mass transport systems such as the LRT/MRT and PNR.