Hot Topic: Jeepney terminals in Muzon moving into Central Terminal

Photo Courtesy: Truth and Dare / Patrick Villanueva

BULACAN- The citizens of CSJDM, Bulacan, particularly in Muzon, still struggles regarding the placement of the terminals in the city.

On January 9, 2020, the CTMG (City Traffic Management) of San Jose Del Monte announced once again that all jeepney terminals will be placed in the city's central terminal to give way for the city's road widening project.

However, drivers and passengers didn't take the news very well

Jeepney drivers

Central Terminal of City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan

Photo Courtesy: Patrick Villanueva

In the interview with different jeepney drivers, they've expressed their dismay in the current situation.

A Tungko jeepney driver said that they do not have a permanent place to load their passengers

"Sa totoo lang, sobrang hirap yung inaabot namin. Di namin malaman saan loading [at] unloading namin [na] regular. Pati pasahero namin nahihirapan." he stated.

Another jeepney driver suggested that the most affected person in the complication is the commuters.

"Ang apektado eh yung mananakay lalo na yung mga senior citizen [at] may mga bitbit na kargamento. Maraming naliligaw, di kagaya dun sa dating nakagawian alam nila kung saan sila pupunta" he denoted

San Jose - Tungkong Mangga Transport Service Cooperative Jerson Saligumba commented that not all drivers have any problems with Central Terminal but rather their struggles when it comes to their Muzon terminal.

"Sa Central Terminal wala kaming problema, yung ibang sakayan namin, yun yung mabigat. Inaalis nila ng walang final na kung saan ka magsasakay." said Sir Saligumba.

"Wala silang binibigay na formal letter kung saan kami regular na magsasakay." he added

"Ang magiging mabigat na problema namin is once na ma-involve sa accident na di sinasadya. Kung hanapan kami ng prangkisa o ng ruta ay hindi saklaw ng ruta namin... talo kami" he uttered.

Of course, Central - Tungko was not the only route to be placed in the terminal. Marilao terminal was also included as one of the terminal routes placed in Central Terminal.

Marilao route driver Jake Caracas questioned the system implemented by the officers

"Hindi maganda yung gawa nilang sistema. Pinalipat-lipat kami kung saan kami tinatapon. Eh doon sa dati naming paradahan maganda na, di kami nakakaistorbo. Nagbabayad kami ng paradahan doon, wala kaming [naiistorbo]." he said.

Chairman of Marilao Transport Dennis Sta. Rosa voiced out the effects of the issue on their income.

"Kasi ang San Jose Del Monte [route] namin sa totoo lang, yun yung pambawi namin na kita. Halimbawa po ang biyahe namin ay Mountainview lang, ang kinikita namin ay mababa, pag kami naman ay San Jose, dun kami kumikita ng mas malaking kita... Eh ngayon, namatay na biyahe naming San Jose. Pinatay netong Central Terminal." said Chariman Sta. Rosa.

When asked about what he thinks about the changes imposed by the officials, he said that they should've just placed the terminal in Muzon.

"Para sa akin pangit ang epekto nito. Pero kung tinayo to sa Muzon [Central Terminal], walang problema. Kung doon sa crossing ng Muzon walang problema kasi nandun yung volume ng tao." Chairman Sta. Rosa remarked.

Passengers

Commuters shared their thoughts when asked about the effects of the implementation of the said terminal.

"Mahirap... Ang layo kasi ng terminal. Kapag umiikot ako ng Sta. Cruz, minsan magta tricycle ka pa. Mado-doble doble yung gastos mo." said Luis Martin, Marilao commuter

"Para sakin hindi. Kasi kagaya sakin na employee, parang everyday struggle kasi parang everyday male-late ka kakahabol ng trip to Marilao eh diba ang tagal nga dumating pa dito ng mga jeep tapos madalas punuan pa." replied Rosebimen Morato, Marilao commuter.

"Para sakin hindi maganda ang pag lipat. Hindi padin neto nasolusyunan yung traffic sa muzon para sakin wala naman naging epektong maganda ang paglipat ng terminal." answered Clement Dimaya, Tungko commuter.

"Mas naging hassle. Lalo na sa mga galing pang muzon, tska yung mga tricycle na bihira lang magsakay ng papuntang central minsan wala ka pang kasabay" commented Chester Bautista, San Jose commuter.

Traffic Enforcer

Photo Courtesy: Truth and Dare / Patrick Villanueva

Muzon Area Sector Commander Rolando V. Dimalanta explained why such changes should be made.

"Yung palipat-lipat na sa terminal ng jeep ay meron po tayong inaayos ngayon ng DPWH na drainage and widening, nag-uumpisa na po... So yung mga mananakay kailangan din nating proteksiyonan yan di yung nilalagay natin kung saan-saan. Ilalagay sa safety." said Sector Commander Dimalanta.

Dimalanta also explained about the communication between them and transport groups of Muzon.

"Nagmi-meeting lahat ng transport [group] kasama yung mga opisyales ng lahat ng transport kagaya nya before mag widening, nagmi-meeting na" he explained.

Sector Commander Rolando V. Dimalanta acknowledged the commuter's strain and asked for the understanding regarding the terminal since it is for everyone's benefit.

"Intindihin lang po natin yung proyekto ng gobyerno. Kagaya ng Grotto nung una eh maraming nagagalit pati yung mga vendor. Ngayon kung napunta kayo sa Grotto, malapad, maluwag wala na rin pong mga vendor. Nung matapos yung Grotto eh maraming natuwa, wala nang traffic." he responded.

He also added the road widening in Kaypian that also achieved better results for traffic management.