Too many bus operators in Metro Manila – JICA

THE number of bus operators which was blown out of proportion is being blamed as one of the many reasons why major thoroughfares of Metro Manila is considered one of the most traffic place in the world, an international study revealed.

Engineer Rene Santiago, who had been the leader of the group who study the traffic situation in Metro Manila under the program of
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), said that the existing law on traffic is not being implemented after the former strongman; President Ferdinand Marcos was overthrown from power.

“We have a law created by then President Marcos at the height of Martial rule and this law is still in effect because no new law had been created to supersede the old law,” Santiago said in a radio interview over dzRH on Tuesday.

He explained that the 1975 law created by Marcos limits bus operators in Metro Manila to only 14 and asked small bus operators to create a group or consortium.

The traffic expert revealed that based on the study, the number of operators is now more than 600, which was allowed by the four administrations after the Marcos regime. –Sammy Martin, Manila Times