Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista stated on Friday that the government does not intend to dismantle the EDSA Busway. Instead, it plans to transfer its operations to a private sector operator to enhance the experience for commuters.
In a statement released by the Department of Transportation (DOTr), which referenced Bautista’s radio interview, the Transportation Secretary emphasized that the dedicated bus lane will remain in place.
Bautista mentioned that he and other Cabinet members recently convened with President Marcos to discuss the Comprehensive Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) for Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces.
He clarified that the Busway is “not necessarily a replication of the MRT3,” noting that the dedicated bus lane accommodates commuters traveling from Caloocan City to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) in Parañaque City.
In contrast, the MRT3 rail line serves passengers exclusively from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City.
Furthermore, Bautista indicated that point-to-point buses (P2P) and airport express buses are now permitted to operate on the EDSA Busway to help reduce congestion on the nation’s busiest road.
He also said that the feasibility study for the privatization of the EDSA Busway is expected to be completed within a few months.
