THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is planning to use South Korea’s integrated bus terminal system as a model in setting up bus terminals in Metro Manila.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said that Seoul’s integrated bus terminal system is much effective and it is also applicable in Metro Manila since both have the same number of buses plying major thoroughfares.

Tolentino, together with Public Works and Highways Sec. Rogelio Singson and Transportation and Communications Sec. Joseph Emilio Abaya, has visited Seoul recently to personally check and observe its integrated bus terminal system.

“Nagkakaisa na kaming tatlo hindi lang sa pangangailangan kundi paano gawin. Ang pinasyalan naming bus terminal ay angkop dito sa Metro Manila [We are all agreed, not only on the necessity of the bus terminal system, but on how to implement it. The bus terminal that we recently visited is applicable in Metro Manila],” Tolentino told radio dzBB.

The MMDA chief said that Seoul’s bus terminal is like a big shopping center wherein the dispatching and arrival of buses are well synchronized.

“Mayroong [There is a] retail component, hindi mo na kailangang umalis andun na ‘yung [you need not leave the area since there is also a] mall, parang [it is like a] commercial center,” he added.

Tolentino, Singson, and Abaya have agreed to construct three main bus terminals in Metro Manila similar to that of Seoul.

He said that one bus terminal will be constructed in the North near North Avenue and two others in the South, the one is to be built in FTI in Taguig City.

He said that the proposed bus terminals are also inter-modal since other modes of transportation like the Metro Rail Transit, Light Rail Transit and Philippine National Railways are accessible to the arriving bus passengers.

“Kung isa lang ang [If there is only one] bus terminal, alam lahat ng tao kung saan sila maghahatid, at saan sila susundo [people would know where to go],” he added.

Tolentino said that with the implementation of the integrated bus terminal system, traffic congestion along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) would be eased. Over 3,000 buses ply EDSA everyday.