Metro Manila Transit Corporation

The Metropolitan Manila Transit Corporation (MMTC) was a government-owned transport company in Metro Manila, the Philippines.

Metro Manila Transit Corporation
ParentMetro Manila Council (1975–1979)
Ministry of Transportation and Communications (1979–1997)[1]
Founded1974; 50 years ago (1974) (as the Manila Transit Corporation)
Commenced operation1975; 49 years ago (1975)
Ceased operation1995; 29 years ago (1995)[2]
Defunct1997; 27 years ago (1997)[2]
HeadquartersNorth Avenue corner Mindanao Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Service areaMetro Manila
Service typeBus service
OperatorGovernment of the Philippines

At its peak, the MMTC operated several bus routes in Metro Manila. It was most well known for its Love Bus and double-decker bus routes.

History

edit

After World War II, the pre-war tranvía streetcar system in Manila was left destroyed, leaving a gap in the city's public transport infrastructure that was subsequently filled by buses and jeepneys. This, however, resulted in a fragmented public transportation system in Manila and its suburbs dominated by independent transport operators who competed against each another, resulting in inadequate services.[3][4]

During the martial law period under Ferdinand Marcos, efforts were made to address the problem, as Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 492 on June 27, 1974, which established the Manila Transit Corporation (MTC), a government-owned and controlled corporation. The MTC would serve the role of integrating all public transportation operations in the region under a single corporate entity, thereby streamlining services and eliminating the issues caused by the proliferation of independent transport operators.[4]

On November 7, 1975, Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 824, establishing Metro Manila and the Metropolitan Manila Commission.[5] Following this, on December 25, 1975, the MTC was renamed as the Metropolitan Manila Transit Corporation (MMTC) and its focus was expanded to cover the newly-created metropolitan area through the issuance of Presidential Decree No. 860. The decree also exempted the MMTC from regulation under the Public Service Act.[6]

That same year, the Love Bus was launched by the MMTC. It was popularized as the first air-conditioned bus service in the country, as well as its strict observance of timetables.[3] By May 1977, the Love Bus had carried over 5.34 million passengers, with a study in February 1976 stating that 19 percent of its passengers used to commute by car.[7]: 62, 64 

On July 23, 1979, Marcos issued Executive Order No. 546, creating the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) and designating the MMTC as an attached agency of the MOTC.[1]

On March 20, 1985, Marcos issued Executive Order No. 1011, creating the Land Transportation Commission (LTC) as an attached agency of the MOTC. The order removed MMTC's exemption from regulation, placing it under the authority of the LTC.[8]

At some point in the 1990s, the Love Bus was discontinued due to significant losses incurred by MMTC.[citation needed]

Privatization and dissolution

edit

Following the People Power Revolution, which led to Marcos' resignation, the subsequent Aquino administration shifted the government's focus towards deregulating and privatizing the transport sector and disposing of state-owned bus operations, particularly those of MMTC.[9]

During the Ramos administration, a study group was created in 1994 to formulate a plan to privatize the MMTC.[10] After multiple unsuccessful attempts to liquidate MMTC, the company was eventually sold to its blue-collar employees in March 1995. Its buses were then acquired and operated by four groups formed by the former employees:[11][2]: 7-3

  • United Workers Transport Corporation
  • Drivers, Conductors, Mechanics (DCOMMP) Multi-Purpose Transport Service Cooperative
  • Filcomtrans
  • Fastrans

MMTC retained a skeletal workforce of 12 employees and focused on asset liquidation, auditing the four groups operating its former buses, and collecting outstanding payments from prior obligations.[2]: 7-3

After the company had completely ceased operations, its northern terminal and garage on the corner of North Avenue and Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City was demolished and returned to the National Housing Authority (NHA).[2]: 7-3. The area of that property was then developed in a joint venture between Ayala Land and the NHA into Vertis North.

Its 3,593-square-meter (0.3593 ha) southern terminal in Taguig[7]: 62, 64  was demolished and returned to Food Terminal Inc. (FTI), which leased the lot and much of the area to the Shoppers Paradise FTI Corporation in the 2000s,[12] then sold most of the area to Ayala Land in 2012, developing most of the area into Arca South.[13]

Fares

edit

In 1984, both ordinary buses and double-decker buses had a fare of ₱0.80 (equivalent to ₱8 in 2021) for the first 4 kilometers (2.5 mi) and ₱0.21 (equivalent to ₱2 in 2021) for each succeeding kilometer. Limited buses operated on a flat rate system with a fare of ₱0.70 (equivalent to ₱7 in 2021) per zone with a special fare of ₱1.85 (equivalent to ₱18 in 2021) per zone.[14]: 6-2

The Love Bus also similarly operated on a flat rate system. In 1979, the fare was set at ₱2.50 (equivalent to ₱56 in 2021).[15] By 1984, this amount had increased to ₱5.50 (equivalent to ₱52 in 2021).[14]: 6-2 By 1990, it had risen to ₱8.50 (equivalent to ₱44 in 2021).[16]: 88

Routes

edit

According to the 1984 JUMSUT report made by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, MMTC was the operator of 54 ordinary bus routes, 28 air-conditioned bus (Love Bus) routes, five limited bus routes, and three double-decker bus routes.[17]: 78-82

Route Terminals Route Structure Service area Length Notes
List of known MMTC limited bus routes[14]: 33[18]: 1-38[17]: 92-93[17]: 78-82
1 U.P. Campus - Ayala U.P. Campus
UP Diliman
Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
18.4 km (11.4 mi)
2 U.P. Campus - Quiapo U.P. Campus
UP Diliman
Quiapo
Quezon Boulevard
18.3 km (11.4 mi)
3 Sangandaan - Ayala Caloocan
A. Mabini Street
Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
19.6 km (12.2 mi)
4 Monumento - Washington
via Ayala, Buendia
Caloocan
Monumento
Makati
Washington Street
19.1 km (11.9 mi)
5 FTI - Monumento Taguig
Food Terminal Inc.
Caloocan
Monumento
26.2 km (16.3 mi)
Route Terminals Route Structure Service area Length Notes
List of known MMTC double-decker bus routes[14]: 33[18]: 1-38[17]: 92-93[17]: 78-82
1 U.P. Campus - Ayala U.P. Campus
UP Diliman
Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
19.5 km (12.1 mi)
2 Monumento - Leveriza Caloocan
Monumento
Malate
Leveriza Street
21.6 km (13.4 mi)
3 Monumento - Ayala Caloocan
Monumento
Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
20.0 km (12.4 mi)

Of the 28 Love Bus routes, 27 were considered intra-city routes and one was considered an inter-city route.[19] The first Love Bus route was launched between Escolta and the Makati CBD in 1976 and was its most profitable route.[3]

Route Terminals Route Structure Service area Length Notes
List of known Love Bus routes[14]: 33[18]: 1-38[17]: 92-93
1 Cubao - Escolta
via EDSA
Araneta Center
Ali Mall
Binondo
Escolta Street
16.5 km (10.3 mi)
2 U.P. - Ayala
via Cubao
U.P. Campus
UP Diliman
Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
16.6 km (10.3 mi)
3 U.P. Campus - Ayala
via Escolta
U.P. Campus
UP Diliman
Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
24.6 km (15.3 mi)
4 Ayala - Ali Mall, Cubao
via Quiapo
Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
Araneta Center
Ali Mall
14.5 km (9.0 mi)
5 Ayala - Escolta - Philcoa Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
Quezon City
Philcoa
10.6 km (6.6 mi)
6 New MIA - Ayala Pasay
Manila International Airport
Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
7.5 km (4.7 mi)
7 New MIA - Sta. Cruz Pasay
Manila International Airport
Santa Cruz
Plaza Santa Cruz
12.0 km (7.5 mi)
8 FTI - Ayala (MCC) Western Bicutan
Food Terminal Inc.
Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
13.8 km (8.6 mi)
9 Ayala - Cubao
via EDSA
Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
Araneta Center
Ali Mall
10.8 km (6.7 mi)
10 Ayala - Escolta
via Mabini
Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
Binondo
Escolta Street
10.0 km (6.2 mi)
11 Ayala - Marikina (MMC) Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
Marikina
Shoe Avenue
19.1 km (11.9 mi)
12 Ayala - Sta. Cruz (MMC) Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
Santa Cruz
Plaza Santa Cruz
9.9 km (6.2 mi)
13 Ayala - Quiapo (MCC) Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
Quiapo
Quezon Boulevard
9.5 km (5.9 mi)
14 MIA - Cubao
via EDSA
Pasay
Manila International Airport
Araneta Center
Ali Mall
16.4 km (10.2 mi)
15 PNR Caloocan - Ayala Caloocan
Caloocan station
Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
11.1 km (6.9 mi)
16 U.P. - Quiapo U.P. Campus
UP Diliman
Quiapo
Quezon Boulevard
24.7 km (15.3 mi)
17 Antipolo - Ayala
via EDSA, Crossing, Rosario
Antipolo
P. Oliveros Street
Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
23.0 km (14.3 mi) Operated by EMBC.
18 Ayala - Greenhills Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
Greenhills
Greenhills Shopping Center
8.6 km (5.3 mi)
19 Ayala - Quiapo Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
Quiapo
Quezon Boulevard
9.5 km (5.9 mi)
20 Ayala - MIA Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
Pasay
Manila International Airport
8.8 km (5.5 mi)
21 Ayala - Philtrade Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
Pasay
PhilTrade
5.3 km (3.3 mi)
22 Ayala - Muñoz Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
Quezon City
Muñoz Market
15.7 km (9.8 mi)
23 Ayala - Philcoa Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
Quezon City
Philcoa
14.1 km (8.8 mi)
24 Ayala - U.P. Campus Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
U.P. Campus
UP Diliman
16.8 km (10.4 mi)
25 Ayala - Cubao
via Quiapo
Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
Araneta Center
Ali Mall
23.0 km (14.3 mi)
26 U.E. Caloocan - Ayala
via DBP Buendia Crispa
Caloocan
UE Caloocan
Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
21.1 km (13.1 mi)
27 U.E. Caloocan - Ayala Caloocan
UE Caloocan
Makati CBD
Ayala Avenue
20.9 km (13.0 mi)
28 Monumento - Buendia
via Ayala
Caloocan
Monumento
Pasay
Buendia Avenue
19.9 km (12.4 mi)

Fleet

edit

The MMTC operated several types of buses, each with varying specifications. The ordinary and limited buses were 2.5 m (8.2 ft) wide, 3.3 m (11 ft) high, and 11.0 m (36.1 ft) long. The ordinary buses had a seating capacity of 59, while the limited buses had 58 seats. The double-decker buses measured 2.5 m (8.2 ft) in width, 4.7 m (15 ft) in height, and 11.0 m (36.1 ft) in length, and had 100 seats. The Love Bus measured 2.5 m (8.2 ft) wide, 4.7 m (15 ft) high, and 10.0 m (32.8 ft) long, with a seating capacity of 54.[14]: 6-2

The Love Bus formerly ran on a fleet of air-conditioned buses that had a monocoque body design, which was considered a significant milestone at the time as before 1975, all buses in the Philippines were flatbed trucks mounted with wooden bodies. Its former fleet initially consisted of buses made by industry giants Hino, Mercedes-Benz, and Volvo, then expanded into then-lesser known brands such as Ford, Fiat, and four other companies. The Love Bus had also operated double-decker buses, being the first company to do so in the Philippines.[3]

The 1984 JUMSUT report estimated that there were 40 double-decker bus units, 370 Love Bus units, and 100 limited bus units in operation as of February of that year.[14]: 6-2

Board of directors

edit

The MMTC was governed by a board of directors consisting of six ex-officio cabinet members. The board was chaired by the general manager or governor of Metro Manila, who also served as the MMTC chairman. The other board members included the Secretary of Transportation and Communications, who acted as Vice Chairman, the Secretary of National Defense, the Secretary of Industry, the Secretary of Finance, the Secretary of Public Highways, and one additional member appointed by the President of the Philippines, with a term limited to two years.[7]: 37, 40 

Incidents

edit

MMTC v. D.M. Consortium, Inc.

edit

In the aftermath of the 1989 Philippine coup attempt against the Aquino administration, bus operators JD Transit, Inc. and DM Consortium Inc. ceased operations, causing disruption to bus services. In response, President Corazon Aquino issued Memorandum Order No. 267 on December 7, 1989, directing the Department of Transportation and Communications to temporarily direct or take over the operations of the two transport companies.[20][21]

On December 9, 1989, MMTC repossessed DMCI's buses, occupied its offices, and attempted to auction off 228 repossessed buses that it was leasing from MMTC, alleging that DMCI had defaulted on its amortization payments. DMCI responded by filing for a temporary restraining order against the public auction, which was granted on April 11, 1990.[21]

MMTC filed a motion for reconsideration and a petition for certiorari, but these were denied by the courts. In 1995, the Regional Trial Court ruled in favor of DMCI, finding no legal basis for MMTC to repossess the buses or sell them at auction. Both MMTC and DMCI filed motions for reconsideration, with MMTC arguing it was justified to do so under a lease-purchase agreement, while DMCI argued that MMTC did not ensure just compensation as required by MO No. 267. DMCI also sought damages, claiming the buses had deteriorated during the prolonged legal battle.[21]

In 2001, the Court of Appeals upheld the decision against MMTC and ordered additional compensation, including ₱2 million for DMCI’s offices. MMTC appealed to the Supreme Court, contesting the ruling on the repossession and the ₱2 million compensation. The Supreme Court denied MMTC's appeal in 2007, affirming the Court of Appeals’ decision.[21]

See also

edit

Similar state-owned enterprises

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Executive Order No. 546 (July 23, 1979), Creating a Ministry of Public Works and a Ministry of Transportation and Communications
  2. ^ a b c d e "Technical Report No. 5 - Transportation Terminals". Metro Manila Urban Transportation Integration Study. Japan International Cooperation Agency. 1999.
  3. ^ a b c d Santiago, Rene (December 2021). "The Rise and Fall of the Love Bus (and the Ghosts of Bus Reforms Past)" (PDF). Philippine Transportation Journal. 4 (1). National Center for Transportation Studies.
  4. ^ a b Presidential Decree No. 492 (June 27, 1974), Creating The Manila Transit Corporation, Appropriating Funds Therefor And For Other Purposes
  5. ^ Presidential Decree No. 860 (November 7, 1975), Creating the Metropolitan Manila and the Metropolitan Manila Commission and for Other Purposes
  6. ^ Presidential Decree No. 860 (December 25, 1975), Amending the Title and Certain Sections of Presidential Decree Numbered Four Hundred Ninety Two, Entitled "Creating the Manila Transit Corporation, Appropriating the Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes"
  7. ^ a b c Sutadisastra, Effendi (1978). A critical study of Metro Manila Transit Corporation (MBA thesis). De La Salle University.
  8. ^ Executive Order No. 1011 (March 20, 1985), Establishing the Land Transportation Commission in the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, and for Other Purposes
  9. ^ Rimmer, Peter J. (May 1989). A Tale of Four Cities: Competition and Bus Ownership in Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila and Singapore (PDF). Thredbo – via Thredbo.
  10. ^ Memorandum Order No. 218 (July 13, 1994), Creating a Study Group to Prepare a Strategic Action Plan for the Privatization of the Metro Manila Transit Corporation (MMTC)
  11. ^ Juico, Philip Ella (August 3, 2022). "Fidel V. Ramos: A man dedicated to peace and his people". BusinessWorld. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  12. ^ G.R. No. 153925 (August 10, 2006), Food Terminal, Inc., et al. vs. Shoppers Paradise FTI Corporation
  13. ^ Burgonio, TJ (November 13, 2012). "Ayala buys FTI for P24.3B". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on November 15, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g "Part II: Metro Manila Public Transportation". The Metro Manila Transportation Planning Study (JUMSUT) - Final Report - Main Text. Japan International Cooperation Agency. 1984.
  15. ^ Cal, Primitivo (1979). "Bus and Jeepney Operations in Metro Manila: Problems and Solutions" (PDF). Philippine Planning Journal. 10 (2). UP SURP.
  16. ^ Reyes, Elizabeth (1990). Manila. University of Michigan. ISBN 9789711341299.
  17. ^ a b c d e f "Supporting Document No. 5: Metro Manila Bus/Jeepney Route Inventory and Planning Data". The Metro Manila Transportation Planning Study (JUMSUT) - Final Report. Japan International Cooperation Agency. 1984.
  18. ^ a b c "Part II: Metro Manila Public Transportation". The Metro Manila Transportation Planning Study (JUMSUT) - Final Report - Main Text. Japan International Cooperation Agency. 1984.
  19. ^ Corpuz, Lynda (November 24, 2014). "Remember the Love Bus? Might be time to have it back". Rappler. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
  20. ^ Memorandum Order No. 267 (December 7, 1989), Directing the Temporary Take-Over or Direction of the Operations of JD Transit, Inc. and DM Consortium, Inc.
  21. ^ a b c d G.R. No. 147594 (March 7, 2007), Metro Manila Transit Corporation vs. D.M. Consortium, Inc.
edit