The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) opens its South West Integrated Provincial Transport Terminal (SWIPTT) Tuesday, August 06, a first of the three integrated terminals, to the commuting public.
Conveniently situated at the Uniwide Coastal Mall at the corner of Coastal Road and NAIA Road Ext. in Paranaque, the integrated terminal aims to service buses plying Batangas-Manila and Cavite-Manila routes. Effective Tuesday, August 06, provincial buses coming from Cavite and Batangas will no longer be allowed to ply beyond the integrated terminal. The front portion of the Uniwide Coastal Mall facing Coastal highway houses the Bus Management Dispatch System (BMDS) to make sure that colorums or out-of-line buses will no longer be allowed to proceed further into Metro Manila. This also houses the terminal for city buses that will connect you to your next destination.
Bus Management Dispatch System (BMDS)?
BMDS is an enhanced dispatch system that enables MMDA to regulate the number of public utility buses cruising around the metro since it can verify licensed plates directly from Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Land Transportation Office (LTO) and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) database. It also monitors the drivers manning registered buses with the use of biometrics or finger-scanning to verify their profile. (Source: GMA News)
Surviving the first day...
I was like an elementary kid eager to try the new MMDA Integrated Bus Terminal scheme. So I set off an hour earlier than my usual traffic adventure on my way to work. Aguinaldo highway seems to be free of cluttered buses, hmm that's a good way to start. I noticed most of the buses had their sign boards changed to "Coastal Mall" and the traffic seems to have decongested a bit. The only time i remember the bus stopped was at the toll gate and the rest was a smooth drive.
Arriving and finding your way at the terminal (SWIPTT) isn't that complicated. There were lot's of porters and information guides to help you get to your next stop. From SWIPTT, we were advised to alight and transfer to city buses at the other side of the building. No big deal, it was an all new experience for me and surprisingly I wasn't complaining at all --seriously - not at all.
The real drama happened after work. Since I go home late, I had no choice but to take a bus ride from my work to Baclaran. This is the sad part, since it was late, buses would often cut their trip short near the Airport Road and won't go straight to the terminal. And since there were limited buses and jeepneys plying the route, I had to walk from Airport Road to the terminal. Tsk! talk about one of my "Kawawa Moments!" I had to admit, it scared the hell out of me and took whatever sanity i had at that moment. Suddenly, all the scenes from SOCO reality television series flashed back -- dark alley, vacant lots and a creek! Creepy!
Finally I saw the light! --I mean the stop light. I reached the intersection safely. Took the overpass and landed on the other side --then JA-RAAAAAN! I saw the sign! --the signboard that says "to Cavite". Yay! I'm finally going home :-)
Here's a snap of the terminal at night...
The first day was a not-so-successful opening. A lot of confused commuters around me and massive traffic around Baclaran area and Macapagal highway welcomed the unsuspecting public. Hopefully, things will get fixed in no time. Till then, i'll keep you posted :-)
Surviving the first day...
I was like an elementary kid eager to try the new MMDA Integrated Bus Terminal scheme. So I set off an hour earlier than my usual traffic adventure on my way to work. Aguinaldo highway seems to be free of cluttered buses, hmm that's a good way to start. I noticed most of the buses had their sign boards changed to "Coastal Mall" and the traffic seems to have decongested a bit. The only time i remember the bus stopped was at the toll gate and the rest was a smooth drive.
Arriving and finding your way at the terminal (SWIPTT) isn't that complicated. There were lot's of porters and information guides to help you get to your next stop. From SWIPTT, we were advised to alight and transfer to city buses at the other side of the building. No big deal, it was an all new experience for me and surprisingly I wasn't complaining at all --seriously - not at all.
The real drama happened after work. Since I go home late, I had no choice but to take a bus ride from my work to Baclaran. This is the sad part, since it was late, buses would often cut their trip short near the Airport Road and won't go straight to the terminal. And since there were limited buses and jeepneys plying the route, I had to walk from Airport Road to the terminal. Tsk! talk about one of my "Kawawa Moments!" I had to admit, it scared the hell out of me and took whatever sanity i had at that moment. Suddenly, all the scenes from SOCO reality television series flashed back -- dark alley, vacant lots and a creek! Creepy!
Finally I saw the light! --I mean the stop light. I reached the intersection safely. Took the overpass and landed on the other side --then JA-RAAAAAN! I saw the sign! --the signboard that says "to Cavite". Yay! I'm finally going home :-)
Here's a snap of the terminal at night...
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| Bay area for Cavite bound buses |
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| Long line of Cavite commuters |
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