Republic of the Philippines. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Quezon Gity, Metro Manila SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS Third Regular Session 2537 House Resolution No. Introduced by Rep. CESAR V. SARMIENTO. RESOLUTION STRONGLY URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THE LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD, THE METRO MANILA COMMISSION, THE METRO MANILA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES CONCERNED, TO SUSPEND AND RECONSIDER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW TERMINAL SCHEME THAT WILL AFFECT THE COMMUTING PUBLIC FROM THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN LUZON REGIONS, TO ENSURE A SAFE, EFFICIENT, AND COMFORTABLE PASSENGER EXPERIENCE AT NO EXPENSE TO THEIR COMMUTE WHEREAS, Article Ill, Section 6 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the right to travel shall not be impaired except in the interest of national security, public safety, or public health, as may be provided by law; WHEREAS, it is the policy of the State to undertake measures that will ease the process of exercising the citizens’ freedom of movement, mobility rights, or the right to travel, which is a human right as provided for under Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; WHEREAS, Section 3 (b) of Republic Act No. 7924 which created the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), provides that one of MMDA's ‘service functions involves transport and traffic management including the formulation, coordination, and monitoring of policies, standards, programs, and projects to rationalized the existing transport operations, infrastructure requirements, the Use of thoroughfares, and promotions of sale and convenient movement of persons and goods; WHEREAS, Section 4 of the same law provides that the Metro Manila Council (MMC), composed of the mayors of the eight (8) cities and nine (9) municipalities in the region, serves as the coordinating governing and policy-making body of the MMDA;ore ee the Department of Transportation (DOT?) Department Order (DO) 2018-025, following the Policy Set in DOTr DO 2017-011, requires provincial buses to end trips at their respective integrated terminals, if available; WHEREAS, per affected Stakeholders, the issuance of DO 2018-025 will give undue advantage to bus operators whose franchises wete converted to city operation, to the prejudice of other bus Operators; WHEREAS, last 14 November 2018, the Transportation Committee of the House of Representatives discussed the issue on rationalization of terminals in Metro Manila, including the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), and the planned the Sta. Rosa and Valenzuela Terminals; WHEREAS, last 21 March 2019, the Metro Manila Council (MMC) passed Resolution 19-002, prohibiting the issuance of business permits to all public utility bus terminals along EDSA in preparation for the transfer. The prohibition states that all provincial buses originating from northern Luzon will stop at Valenzuela City, 14.3 kilometers away from Manila, while provincial buses coming from the south will have its stopover point at Sta. Rosa, Laguna, 39 kilometers away from Manila; WHEREAS, it was noted that public hearings were conducted by the MMC. However, the said consultations were not comprehensive and not all stakeholders concerned were consulted; WHEREAS, the resolution timeline provides that the MMDA will conduct a dry run after the Holy Week to prepare both bus operators and commuters, adding that the agency hopes to have these establishments shut down by June 2019; WHEREAS, the new policy has caused grave concern from affected constituents, taking into consideration that it will have adverse effects on the commuting public, especially those coming from the Bicol region; and ‘WHEREAS, the DOTr and the MMDA, in line with the administration's policy to provide a safe and comfortable experience, should not only suspend the implementation of the impending new policy, but more importantly, hear the sentiments of the affected commuting public as voiced out by their respective Representatives; NOW, BE IT RESOLVED, AS IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the House of Representatives, through the Committee on Transportation, strongly urges the DOTr through the LTFRB, the MMC, the MMDA, and other government agencies concerned, to suspend and reconsider the implementation of the new terminal scheme that will affect the commuting public from the Northern and Southern Luzon regions, and to ensure a safe, efficient, and comfortable passenger experience at no expense to their commute; andRESOLVED FURTHER, that in the Meantime: 1. The MMDA strictly implement traffic fules and regulations, particularly on illegal terminals and on colorum Vehicles, and on clearing alternate routes and mabuhay lanes, in order to ease the traffic situation in Metro Manila: 2. The DOTr submit a vehicle capacity of the Valen: fationalization plan containing, among others, the buses that will be affected: a zuela and Sta, Rosa bus terminals and the number of ind 7 if 3. The DOTr, Pending review by the Transportation Committee oe hora Representatives as Oversight, to conduct thorough and inclusive pul wher: ‘ jally those © there will be representatives of all stakeholders involved especially commuters that will be gravely affected. Approved. : io ee CESAR V. SARMIENTO