DOTC eyes bus rapid transit, more walkways, car-less cities

rappler : ""The goal is for the private car owners to use public transport. How do you do that? By improving public transport systems so hopefully you'll get less cars on the road. We're pretty confident that it would work," she told Rappler last Wednesday, April 16."

Government admits #publictransit inadequate, declines invitation to ride

Palace exec apologizes for chiding commuters - Manila Standard Today: "“We apologize and ask for understanding from our countrymen for the sacrifices they bear everyday. While waiting for the new MRT-3 coaches, the government will continue to look for measures to ease this problem,” Coloma said.

Coloma, however, was lukewarm to suggestions that Aquino and his Cabinet officials ride the MRT-3 to experience for themselves the inconvenience suffered by ordinary passengers everyday.

“There have also been times that we take public transportation. We do not ride private vehicles all the time,” he said.

“We understand their plight just looking at the capacity of the MRT-3 coaches and the ridership. You can immediately see that the capacity is insufficient,” Coloma added."

Free buses desperately needed in Manila

Makati City Hall to LTFRB: don't suspend free bus service for workers - InterAksyon.com: "The city government has been fielding several buses to transport passengers from the Metro Rail System (MRT) North Avenue station in Quezon City to Ayala Avenue, amid spreading unrest over the misery of MRT commuters owing to frequent breakdowns of the overloaded system.  For weeks now, workers who used to take MRT to reach offices early have had to brave long queues just to get to the ticket windows or turnstiles, extending the usual travel time by twice over, or more.

On Thursday, however, the LTFRB told Makati City Hall to secure the required special permit to continue offering the free bus service."

Makati expands free transport

Manila Standard Today: "The Makati City government will purchase four more buses to provide free shuttle to commuters from Quezon City to report for work in Makati City.

Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay said the service was launched last March 27.


“Our present fleet of vehicles could only accommodate up to 250 passengers per trip, and the overwhelming response of the public to our program in its initial run has prompted our decision to add more buses, so that more citizens would benefit,” he said."