EJERCITO URGES DOTr TO REVIEW, DEFER PITX OPERATIONS

RE-ELECTIONIST Senator JV Ejercito has questioned the decision to immediately operate the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) despite the apparent absence of cohesive and synchronized planning.

Ejercito also called on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to consider stopping the PITX operations and conduct a wide consultation, thorough study, and practical planning that would produce a better PITX operational procedures.

Since PITX started its operation last November, there have been reports of passenger inconveniences and complaints of lack of available transfer trips.

"Parang hindi naplano nang maayos. They should have conducted a synchronized planning first before they started operating the PITX. Kung talagang hindi handa, baka dapat itigil na muna. Ituloy na lang after ma-review ang proseso at maiayos na para hindi nahihirapan ang ating mga mananakay," he said.

Ejercito said the DOTr should also look into various reports that only selected bus companies are using the terminal along Coastal Road, which make passengers decide not to use the PITX.

The PITX is the first integrated and multi-modal terminal in the southwestern part of Metro Manila which functions as a transfer point among provincial buses from Cavite, Batangas and in-city modes of transportation.

Ejercito pointed out the need to have shuttles that will convey passengers from the various business districts like Makati, Ortigas, and Bonifacio Global City to the PITX to ensure the convenience of passengers. He explained that such scheme could be one of the most efficient ways to carry passengers pending the completion of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 Cavite Extension Project.

The LRT Line 1 Extension Project, expected to be operational in 2020, will increase the line's daily capacity from 500,000 to 800,000. It will extend the existing 20.7-kilometer LRT 1 by approximately 11.7km.

The project is also expected to ease the traffic congestion in the Parañaque-Las Piñas-Cavite corridor as well as improve the commercial development around the rail stations along the line.