Story, photos, and video by Randy Peregrino
Suddenly waking up from a short, tranquil nap, I see in my window’s reflection a wide grin, juxtaposed with a captivating view of the Laguna de Bay. I remember this moment as the first time I truly appreciated being a passenger on the P2P (Point-to-Point) bus that was traversing the Metro Manila Skyway. I wouldn’t have seen this majestic scenery had I been behind the wheel.
That grin was the inner child in me, joyful at seeing something breathtaking for the first time. Good thing no one was sitting beside me, or I would have been so embarrassed for smiling for no apparent reason.
One less car on the road
The P2P system isn’t new in the country, as it has been running for nearly a decade. It was in March 2015 when the Premium P2P Bus Service was launched by the Department of Transportation, in partnership with private bus companies and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). It was meant to be an express bus service to link the suburbs to the central business districts and major commercial areas. There are now over 30 routes with over 50 stops within the Greater Metro Manila area alone. P2P has also caught on in other parts of Luzon and the Visayas.
In 2016, the P2P bus route connecting the Greenbelt commercial area in Makati City to the Alabang Town Center mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, was introduced by RRCG Transport. I saw this as my chance to drive less and use the P2P more. I could just drive my car from my residence in Las Pinas City a few kilometers away to the open parking lot fronting the P2P terminal. I’d leave my car and get on the bus en route to Greenbelt—much like a “park and ride” service. And I wasn’t the only motorist taking the P2P, judging from the number of car owners leaving their cars at the parking lot and getting on the bus. Evidently, this P2P bus route had successfully attracted its targeted patrons, on top of the usual commuters.
Then the P2P service was introduced in Las Piñas City by Tas Trans Corp, whose terminal was a mere 10-minute walk from my place. Finally, there was no need to bring my car to Alabang. The bus route also ended in the Makati commercial district, with designated unloading points in Don Bosco, Landmark, and Circuit Mall. Then from Circuit Mall, the next pick-up point would be in Glorietta 4 before heading back to Las Pinas.
And so, ever since the P2P bus moved closer to my place, I’ve used the service every number coding day (meaning, the day when I’m prohibited by law from using my car, based on the rules set by the government’s Unified Vehicle Volume Reduction Program) or when my work requires me to go to a location in Makati City.
Sustainable, practical, comfy and stress-free
Sustainable initiatives come in various forms and practices. One does not have to own and drive an electric or hybrid vehicle. The mere practice of eco-driving to consume less fuel is already sustainable. More so, leaving the car at home to take public transport. A case in point is the P2P service. Even better, more mobility alternatives are just over the horizon to offer the public even easier access to business districts and major commercial areas.
From a practical standpoint, leaving the car and taking public transport saves every motorist the cost of fuel, freeway tolls, and parking fees. Removing these elements in one’s daily grind brings both rewarding relief and, ultimately, monetary savings. However, perhaps one of the most essential benefits is freeing every motorist from the tremendous mental and physical stress caused by daily driving, because the traffic situation nowadays has become the bane of every motorist. Much more for someone coming from one of the worst traffic-stricken areas in Metro Manila. Sadly, the so-called joy of driving exists only during late nights and the wee hours.
So far, allotting a substantial time allowance for drive time has helped ease the stress, allowing for relaxed and passive driving methods. However, the traffic situation still plagues every motorist’s wellness. That is why every P2P ride has become something to look forward to. It is sustainable, cost-saving, and, more importantly, stress-free. Board, tap to pay, sit, and relax (and take in the scenery) until you get off.
Aboard the P2P bus, comfy seats are by twos. When you ride during the slow hours, chances are there are more vacant seats. The air-con is cold enough for passengers to doze off. Of course, on my route, which goes on the elevated Skyway, us passengers get to see a bonus view of Laguna Lake. Also, when I’m not driving, I have unlimited access to my smartphone. How cool is that?
P2P and beyond
For someone who has been driving for decades and has endured all forms of on-road stress to get to my destinations, the P2P ride experience has opened my mind to other transport alternatives. Now, the initiative has transcended to riding the MRT (Metro Rail Transit) and other connecting bus routes, as long as it is easily accessible to and from the P2P terminals. There are now instances when I go to Bonifacio Global City in Taguig from Makati City via the BGC bus, and it just takes me another 10-minute walk in the relative comfort and safety of the mall to get from the P2P terminal in
Makati to the BGC bus terminal, and vice versa.
Paying for your P2P ride is as easy as getting that Beep Card for cashless payments. Beep cards offer various ways to reload. Finally, it’s important to remember that P2P buses follow strict schedules for departures. In most cases, a P2P bus leaves every 30 minutes during the morning and afternoon rush and every hour in between. So, plan your trips around these schedules. To know more, visit the P2P Bus Service portal at https://p2pbus.ph/.