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The Department of Transportation denied Tuesday that it favored some Metro-bound bus companies from southern Luzon that were exempted from ending their routes at a new integrated terminal in the capital.

The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) is supposed to be the last stop of Metro-bound provincial buses that are banned on EDSA. From the terminal, commuters can take other transport systems like city buses, taxis and UV Express vans.

However, the DOTr last month issued a department order exempting some 300 provincial buses from ending their routes at the PITX.

Among those exempted are buses from Bacoor, Imus and Dasmariñas in Cavite and Biñan, San Pedro and Sta. Rosa in Laguna, said DOTr Undersecretary Mark De Leon.

These units serve many commuters that travel daily to and from Metro Manila and their residence, who will be saved the inconvenience of transferring to a city bus, he told radio DZMM.

De Leon also denied that DOTr officials had dinner with a bus operator covered by the exemption.

"Malinis po ang ating hangarin para sa ating commuters natin dito sa Kalakhang Maynila... Wala pong mga dinner na nangyari," he said.

(Our intention for our commuters in Metro Manila is clean. No such dinner occurred.)

The exemption, he added, could not be deemed as a prize because operators covered by it should convert their units into city buses with low floors and multiple doors, which would require money.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has yet to release a memorandum circular identifying these bus companies, he said.

DZMM, 13 November 2018