MANILA, Philippines — Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has directed the issuance of special permits for nearly 300 buses from Sapang Palay and Fairview, allowing them to once again pick up and drop off passengers along NIA Road in Quezon City.
“This is necessary so passengers won’t have to walk long distances, especially when transferring to the MRT-3,” Lopez said. “The long walk is a burden to commuters—particularly to senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Bus stops should be closer to the MRT to make transfers easier.”
Lopez said he personally experienced the inconvenience caused by previous changes in loading and unloading areas, prompting him to push for immediate adjustments to ease the burden on commuters.
Following Lopez’s directive, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) issued 268 special permits for Sapang Palay-bound buses to use NIA Road.
Under the new setup, buses will operate in a loop from Sapang Palay through Commonwealth Avenue, East Avenue, Internal Road, and NIA Road before returning.
While buses are now allowed to load and unload along NIA Road, Lopez stressed that parking or using the area as a terminal remained strictly prohibited.
To ensure smooth traffic flow, he also ordered the deployment of four Philippine Coast Guard personnel and Land Transportation Office traffic enforcers in the area. Each bus is only allowed to stay for a maximum of three minutes before moving on.
The use of loud horns along NIA Road will likewise be banned to avoid disturbing nearby residential and office buildings.
For now, buses will be allowed to operate along NIA Road only during rush hours—between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m., and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.—throughout October. The schedule may be adjusted or extended depending on the results of an ongoing assessment.
