Dizon cracks whip against illegal terminals

The Department of Transportation (DoTr) will sanction four bus companies — Philtranco, Mega Bus, Ten Ten and RMB Bus — for operating illegal makeshift terminals in EDSA Malibay, Pasay, depriving passengers of proper facilities.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said Tuesday that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has been instructed to summon the companies and explore all possible penalties.

“We already have PITX, so why is this happening? This is not a terminal. There are no chairs, just tents, no comfort rooms. These passengers are paying regular fares. These aren’t discounted. This is unacceptable,” Dizon said.

“I’ve already instructed the LTFRB to impose all possible penalties and sanctions on these bus companies.”

Dizon’s surprise inspection revealed that the bus lines were operating in a terminal lacking basic amenities, with inconsistent schedules and substandard services.

He suspected the buses lacked proper permits and instructed the LTFRB to conduct a full investigation. However, he decided against immediate closure to avoid disrupting travel plans for passengers who had already booked trips for Holy Week.

“There are minimum standards for operating a terminal. These [terminals] do not meet them,” Dizon said, stressing that terminals must adhere to basic standards, citing the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange as a model.