MANILA — A traffic expert on Tuesday said he believes that the implementation of a congestion fee on EDSA is unlikely in the near future.

Speaking on TeleRadyo Serbisyo, Engineer Rene Santiago said imposing a toll on the metro's major thoroughfare could still be "20 years [o]n the horizon" and that it would depend on the public transport system's improvement.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority last week floated the idea of a congestion fee or toll on vehicles passing through EDSA during rush hour as well as the removal of the EDSA Busway to ease traffic. 

DOTr says won't abolish EDSA Busway

The proposal to remove the EDSA Busway was met with public criticism, with many saying the idea is car-centric. Others say the bus scheme has been particularly helpful to commuters especially because it is an efficient travel option aside from the MRT.

Santiago also rejected the removal of the EDSA Busway and instead suggested deploying the unutilized 48 MRT Dalian trains to boost passenger capacity.

The Department of Transportation has assured commuters that the EDSA Busway is here to stay and that they are open to privatizing the bus system.