CONFUSION marked the first day of the new bus segregation scheme that was officially rolled out on Tuesday by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA).

Some passenger utility bus (PUBs) drivers failed to stop at their designated loading and unloading stations triggering heavy traffic in some parts of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA).

During the launch at the Magallanes bus stop in Makati City, several PUB drivers complained that they were not informed of the new scheme.

Not only PUB drivers, but passengers also complained about the distance between bus loading and unloading bays.   

An irate elderly passenger even shouted at traffic officials because he encountered difficulty in getting off a bus.

“Pinapahirapan niyo kaming mga senior citizen dahil sa layo ng mga babaan [You make it hard for us senior citizen because of the distance of loading bays],” the passenger said.

But Noemi Recio, director of the MMDA Traffic Engineering Center, said that confusion was expected since this was just the first day of the scheme’s implementation.

He said that the traffic authority would intensify its information drive to educate the drivers and the commuters about the scheme.

“Kahit anong programa kapag first day ay may kaunting kalituhan pero sa mga susunod na araw mababawasan din yan [Confusions really happen during the first day of the implementation but this would be addressed in the coming days],” Recio added.      

In defending the scheme, MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said that this would help reduce traffic congestion along EDSA by as much as 40 percent since PUB routes are now clearly delineated.

“We are optimistic that this enhanced bus segregation scheme will decongest EDSA significantly,” said Tolentino, who led the formal launch of the scheme.

Under the scheme, buses marked A and painted with red stickers (for Alabang-bound) will stop at: (Southbound) Ermin Garcia, Arayat Cubao, VV Soliven, Connecticut, Shaw Starmall, Guadalupe, Buendia Ave., Mantrade, while the north-bound buses will stop at Magallanes, Buendia, Guadalupe, Shaw Boulevard, SM Megamall, Boni Serrano, Cubao Farmers and Ermin Garcia.

Buses marked B (for Baclaran-bound) will stop at (Southbound): Kamuning, Monte de Piedad, Main Ave., POEA Ortigas, Pioneer/Boni, Estrella, Ayala Ave. and northbound at: Baliwag/5Star, Main Ave., Ortigas Ave., SM Megamall, Pioneer/Boni, Estrella, Ayala Ave.

The traffic authorities also branded 20 percent of each bus fleets as bus C or “all stop buses,” meaning they can pick up and unload passengers at both bus stops to accommodate short distance travels.

Buses found without or unauthorized A, B or C tag or stickers shall be impounded and fined P1,000, while bus companies found to have transferred the sticker of any of its bus to another group without the written authority of the MMDA will be meted a P500 fine.