After a proposal to make use of the exclusive lane to alleviate traffic.
In a statement on Thursday, January 29, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) responded to the idea floated by Metropolitan Manila Development Authoritity (MMDA) General Manager Nicolas Torre, who suggested that the currently exclusive busway should be opened to carpooling services to reduce traffic in other lanes.
The DOTr, led by Sec. Giovanni Lopez, expressed opposition to the proposal, emphasizing, “The busway was designed primarily to move more people—not more cars—by providing fast and uninterrupted service to buses carrying up to 300,000 passengers daily.“
“Any move to open this lane to private vehicles, even under the guise of carpooling, will inevitably slow down bus operations and defeat the very purpose for which the busway was created,” the statement furthered.
The department also took notice of appreciate the efforts of the MMDA General Manager’s effort to look for solutions to traffic congestion in the Metro, but it reiterated the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., which it relayed, “government transport policy must be commuter-focused and pro–mass transit, not car-centric.”
Hence, the DOTr said that they are taking the side of the commuting public, adding, “Kaisa namin ang mga commuters sa pagpapatotoo na mabisang programa ang EDSA Busway para sa mas nakararami. Sapat na dahilan ito para manatiling eksklusibo ang EDSA Busway para lamang sa mga bus at mga komyuter.“
The transportation department furthered that it is always open for a dialogue with Torre, other agencies and civil society organizations to “create more innovative, well-thought of and holistic solutions to traffic problems.”
Following the statement, multiple groups have expressed support to the stand of the DOTr on this issue, such as the Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines (PBOAP).
ALTODAP President Melencio Vargas said the proposal will only lead back EDSA to the old ways, telling, “Maayos na ang operasyon ng EDSA Busway bakit guguluhin pa? Mauuwi lang ito sa dating sistema na buhol-buhol ang traffic sa EDSA dahil walang sistema.”
For his part, Pasang-Masda National President Ka Obet Martin defended the busway, saying that it only occupies one of the several lanes of the major thoroughfare.
“Mas madaming sasakyan ang padaanin mo dyan, mas malaki ang posibilidad na mahaharangan yan at maapektuhan ang mas maraming pasahero ng mga bus,” he said.
