Veronica M.

Salazar
4E2

Public Sector Economics

October 1, 2013

Implementation of Bus Ban: Does it have a good effect on UST students?

I.

Introduction

Almost all areas in the Philippines have traffic. You are lucky when you do not
experience any traffic when you travel especially in Manila and EDSA. There are reasons or
causes of traffic like there are colorum vehicles on the road, broken stop lights, road
constructions made by the DPWH and loading and unloading of jeepney or bus passengers in the
middle of an intersection or streets.
Too many vehicles passed by in the road of Manila and EDSA. It results to traffic
congestion. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority or MMDA plans to have a new
number-coding scheme to ease the traffic in EDSA. Similar to this, the Manilas city government
make a resolution to lessen the traffic congestion experienced by the public in the road of
countrys capital. There resolution is to implement a Bus Ban in the roads of Manila. After the
city government of Manila implemented the Bus Ban, many passengers and drivers of buses got
angry and confused because they do not know that said resolution is already effective and they
cannot enter to the city of Manila. Buses from the South cannot go beyond P.Ocampo or Vito
Cruz Street and the buses from Cavite and Batangas will have to stop in Southwest Integrated
Terminal in Paraaque City. Also, buses from Quezon City will have to turn around in Mabuhay
Rotunda.
Many of the bus operators and commuters complained about the bus ban in Manila.
Moreover, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) are questioning
the legality of the city governments decision about the bus ban. Because of that, the city
government of Manila revised the resolution. There will be a designated loading and unloading
zones for the buses that can enter the city.
For this study, the researcher wants to know what would be the effects of the
implemented bus ban to the commuters particularly to the students of University of Santo
Tomas. If there is a positive or negative net effect to the students because of the implemented bus
ban. The researcher used a survey questionnaire for this study. Furthermore, the researcher
conducted survey to 50 students who are commuters of buses. The respondents were asked if
they are in favor or not with the bus ban in Manila.

II.

Body

The researcher surveyed 50 students who are commuters and use bus as their mode of
transportation when going to school or when going home. Respondents were asked if they are in
favor or not favor regarding the implemented bus ban. Based on the results of the survey, 18
respondents or 36% of them agree or favor the implementation of bus ban. While 32 respondents
or 64% of the respondents do not favour about the bus ban implementation (See Figure 1).
18 or 36%
respondents

YES

32 or 64%
respondents

NO

Figure 1. Students that favor and do not favor bus ban

Respondents were also asked by the researchers if they have a cheaper fare since a bus
ban has implemented. Figure 2 shows that 11 respondents out of 50 or 22% answered that they
have a cheaper fare. Whereas, 39 respondents out of 50 or 78% answered that they spend more
or do not have a cheaper fare. In Figure 3, it illustrates how much money the students allot for
their fare. 5 or 10% of the respondents answered that they allot 5 to 15 pesos for their fare. 11 or
22% of the respondents answered that they allocate 16 to 30 pesos and 51 to 70 pesos for their
fare. For the 31 to 50 pesos fare, 6 or 12% of the respondents answered that they allot their
money with this. And lastly, 8 or 16% of the respondents and 9 or 18% of the respondents
answered that they allotted their fare with 71 to 100 pesos and 101 pesos and above respectively.
15

YES
22%

10
5

NO
78%

11
5

11
6

0
5-15

Figure 2. Do the students have cheaper fare?

16- 30 31- 50 51- 70 71- 100 101 and

above
Figure 3. Students allotted money for their fare

Figure 4 represents the convenience of the students commuting since there is a bus ban.
There are 12 or 24% of the respondents answered that they are extremely having a hard time
commuting, same with that the students that dont care or dont mind at all about their
convenience. Survey results also showed same percentage of respondents answered that they are
not convenient and convenient in commuting which is 11 or 22%. Finally, 4 or 8% of the
respondents answered that they are slightly not convenient when they are commuting because of
the bus ban.
15

12 or 24%

11 or 22%

12 or 24%

11 or 22%

10
4 or 8%

5
0
Extremely
Not convenient
having a hard
time commuting

Convenient

Slightly not
convenient

I don't care at all

Figure 4.
Convenience of
the students
when
commuting

Respondents also given choices what are their alternative mode of transportation given
that there is implementation of bus ban. Figure 5 shows most of the respondents which is 16 or
32% of them choose jeep as their alternative ride. Next is the LRT/MRT, which is 12 or 24% of
the respondents chosen. The third and fourth alternative ride for the respondents is the FX and
Taxi which is 8 or 16% and 7 or 14% respondents chosen respectively. 5 or 10% of the
respondents chose tricycle as another alternative. Respondents also answered others. They prefer
using private cars, motorcycle or PNR train as another substitute for the bus.
Figure 5.
Alternative ride
for the students

Others
LRT/MRT
FX
Taxi
Jeep
Tricycle

2
12
8
7
16
5
0

10

15

20

Figure 6 illustrates if the students believe that the traffic in Manila lessen since there was
a bus bun implementation. There are 26 out of 50 respondents or 52% of them believe that since
there is an implemented bus ban, the traffic in Manila lessens. While 24 out of 50 respondents or
48% answered that traffic remain the same and nothing changes though the city government of
Manila implemented a bus ban.
Figure 6.
Does the traffic in
Manila reduce?

48%
52%
YES

NO

No. of buses

Commuters (students)
Figure 7. Graph on commuters (students) and no. of buses

Figure 7 above shows the graph on commuters which are the UST students and the
number of buses. The demand of UST students to the number of buses will result to be elastic.
Meanwhile, the supply of the number of buses will be inelastic. Because the supply of buses is
inelastic, the commuters would have to pay or spend a big cost for their fare because there are
limited buses available. The demand of UST students to the number of buses is elastic. It shows

that the students can choose an alternative mode of transportation. The students can choose jeep,
FX, LRT/MRT. It depends on what the students prefer.

III.

Conclusion

After gathering data and conducting survey to the student commuters, the researcher
concludes that there is a positive net effect and negative net effect of the implemented bus ban.
First, the positive net effect which results that the implemented bus ban will reduce the traffic in
Manila.
The negative effect of the implementation of the bus ban in Manila is the students will
not be convenient in commuting since there is a ban and the spend more in their fare unlike
before. Though results showed that there are same percentage results that the students are
extremely having a hard time to commute and students do not mind at all their convenience in
commuting. The researcher thinks that the reason why there are same percentage results is
because there are students who prefer to ride a substitute of bus like jeep, FX or LRT/MRT that
causes them to have a hard time to commute. And also there are students that dont care at all
because there alternative for a bus ride is they will be fetch by a private car or students will not
coincide during rush hour.
Overall, the researcher thinks that there is a negative net effect of the implemented bus
ban. Students do not favor the bus ban implementation. Though results showed that it reduce
traffic, the researcher thinks it does not really reduce traffic because there are many jeeps and
FXs in the road. Some of the jeeps wait in those areas that are not really the place for waiting
passengers and unload passengers. This may add in the traffic. In addition, there are also jeeps
and FXs that are colorum that may add to the congested road in Manila. Researcher suggests
the city government of Manila should penalize the colorum jeeps and FXs first before
implementing something that is not carefully review and discuss.

IV.

References
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Nation&title=Operators-seek-stayorder-on-Manila-bus-ban&id=77018
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/319057/news/metromanila/full-implementationof-bus-ban-in-manila-smooth-so-far
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/07/28/13/manila-modifies-bus-banidentifies-loading-areas
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/319261/news/metromanila/erap-ordinancelegal-partial-bus-ban-in-manila-stays