The ceremonial ribbon-cutting also had a different look.
On Thursday, March 13, the busway stop in front of the popular SM North EDSA mall in Quezon City officially opened to the public.
To mark the occasion, the event shied away from the traditional practice of transport officials and businessmen fronting the ribbon-cutting ceremony, a job that was instead done by the riding public and civil society groups themselves.
“Napakalaking bagay po ng oras. Ang malungkot, wala tayong oras ngayon—wala nang oras ang mga kababayan natin,” Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon highlighted the daily struggles of commuters caught in EDSA traffic.
“Para ito sa commuters. Ang project na ito ng bigay ng SM ay hindi para sa DOTr kundi para sa mga komyuter,” Sec. Dizon added.
The new busway stop, which is a donatuon of SM Prime Holdings, Inc. to the public, boasts a modern footbridge, with shops and mobility devices like escalator and elevator.
Aside from the mall, the concourse also connects with the intermodal transport terminal and the adjacent SM Cyber West building.
Due to its design, the North EDSA concourse will likewise be used as template for other EDSA Busway stations, Sec. Dizon added.
“Hinding hindi po mawawala ang busway. Pagagandahin pa po natin ito. Pabibilisin natin ito. Sasabayan na po natin ang pagpapaganda sa ating EDSA Busway habang ginagawa ang pag-rehab sa EDSA,” Sec. Dizon assured passengers before the planned major road rehabilitation project along the main thoroughfare, which is due to start in April.
According to the figures provided by the Departmemt of Transportation, EDSA Busway ridership has topped 63,022,953 in 2024.
While a total of 5,503,388 commuters have patronized the bus system for the month of January 2025 alone.