With millions of commuters using the mode around the country.
During the Senate Subcommittee on Finance’s hearing on the 2027 budget allocation of the Department of Transportation, Secretary Giovanni Lopez appealed for continued funding of the EDSA Busway system.
According him, PHP1.756 billion is needed to keep the system running in 2027, whichy will include the current modernization works such as the rehabilitation of stations in Bagong Barrio, Balintawak and Guadalupe and the addition of new stations in Cubao, Magallanes and Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).
Lopez explained that the bysway has served more than 63 million passengers in 2025 along the major throughfare.
“Kung wala pong pondo ang ating busway carousel, ang una po talaga, we can say, the one that will suffer are the commuters po using the busway carousel,” he stressed. “We are talking of roughly around 63 million passengers annually. Ito po ‘yung talagang tumatangkilik po sa busway,” he said.
He also emphasized that the busway is also a vital transport mode that provides faster commute times for the public.
“Kung hindi natin mapopondohan ito [busway], paano na po ang mga tinatayo po nating busway stations? Paano po ‘yung mga elevators, mga maliliit na bagay para sa mga matatanda, sa mga PWD? Paano po panatilihing malinis, paano po ang seguridad sa ating mga busway stations? Kailangan po na mapondohan ‘yan,” he emphasized.
In response, Senate Finance Subcommittee Chair Senator JV Ejercito said that the upper chamber will find ways to fund the EDSA Busway system.
“I agree naman na we really need the busway to be improved kasi nga malaking tulong ito sa mga commuters, sa mga ordinary citizens, na tama kayo, dito lang lumalamang [sila] sa mga private cars. And of course, we can see that a lot of people are using the busway system right now,” the lawmaker said.
Apart from that, Lopez also emphasized the importance of mass transport systems in Metro Manila as he sought to guarantee funding for ongoing rail projects such as the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP).
Responding to Senator Erwin Tulfo, he said: “Ako naman po ay naniniwala na gaganda pa rin ang ating transportation system. Itong mass public transport system natin pagdating sa ating mga riles ay talagang kailangan. I think it’s one key solution para maalis ang traffic.”
The transport chief explained that lack of funding for these projects will be equivalent to several years of delay, adding that catching up on the construction would be difficult.
“Ang aking paniniwala naman po ay mayroon po tayong Senado that can protect our [DOTr] funds. Kasi the moment that if we remove the funds—sabihin natin hindi ka nabigyan ng isang taon, dalawang taon [na pondo], ang antala po dito ay hindi lang isang taon, dalawang taon, hindi po ganun. Hindi po ito apple to apple,” Secretary Lopez said.
“Kapag ‘yan [mass transport projects], hindi mo binigyan ng pondo, nilagay mo sa iba, ‘yung pondo—‘yan po ay isang taon na po na [na-delay] that’s equivalent to four years na naantala,” he added.
Secretary Lopez has assured that the government is speeding up mass transport systems such as the NSCR, MMSP and MRT-7.
“We want to see our major projects completed not perpetually under construction. Ayaw na natin na naglalaan tayo ng malaking pondo pero paulit-ulit din ang delays, right-of-way problems at revised completion dates dahil tayo rin ang gumagastos dito sa mga commitment fees at iba pang problema,” Ejercito also said.
