SC urged to stop Manila transport scheme

A CONSUMER group -- along with thousands of commuters -- yesterday asked the Supreme Court (SC) for a stay order on the implementation of an interim transport terminal (ITT), which prevents provincial buses from entering Manila.

In an 18-page petition for review and prohibition, the Coalition of Filipino Consumers (CFC) also sought to declare as unconstitutional various issuances which created the ITTs for an Integrated Transport System (ITS).

The group’s petition was backed up by some 100,000 signatures from commuters supporting their plea.

“If a temporary restraining order [is not issued], the petitioners could be further irreparably harmed and they may find themselves with no realistic recourse to the courts, or any other means of protecting their interests,” the petition read.

The executive issuances questioned include President Benigno S. C. Aquino III’s Executive Order (EO) 67, which sought for the creation of the ITS, and Administrative Order (AO) 40, which created the ITTs.

The commuters also questioned Memorandum Circular No. 2013-004 of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), which amended the routes of buses entering Manila from Coastal Road and the Manila-Cavite Expressway.

The petitioners said the issuances violated their constitutional rights to due process and equal protection when they were implemented without proper consultations and public hearings.

Named respondents are Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio A. Abaya, Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad, LTFRB Chairman Winston M. Ginez and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis N. Tolentino.

EO 67 is based on the Aquino administration’s 2011 to 2016 Philippine Development Plan, which prioritizes the creation of “integrated and multi-modal transport and logistics system under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework.”

“The President recognizes the importance of an organized mass transportation system, which is why he has made it a priority to interconnect the nation’s mass transportation systems such as buses and railways within his term,” Mr. Ochoa earlier said.

AO 40 established interim transport terminals in preparation for the integrated transport system. In turn, the LTFRB issued the memorandum circular which shortened the routes of PUBs to their designated ITTs.

ITTs include Southwest Terminal for provincial buses entering Manila through Coastal Road and Manila-Cavite Expressway, and the North Transport Terminal for provincial buses entering Metro Manila via the North Luzon Expressway and other roads north of Manila.

South Interim Transport Terminal, on the other hand, is intended for buses entering the capital via the South Luzon Expressway and the Skyway.

A similar petition was earlier filed by two teachers commuting to Manila from Cavite.

Panita Ladera and Dolores Salanga earlier asked the high court to declare the ITTs as unconstitutional. -- Mikhail Franz E. Flores

source:  Businessworld