Commuters use the newly opened Tramo Busway terminal near the MRT Pasay/EDSA Station in Pasay City on December 28, 2022. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Friday said the EDSA busway will not be removed following statements from other agencies suggesting that its phaseout was looming. 

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"Hindi tatanggalin [ang busway]. In fact, we are working with our consultant for the privatization of EDSA busway. 'Yung plano dyan ay mai-award ito siguro by 2026 dahil tinatapos na 'yung feasibility study," DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista told Teleradyo Serbisyo.

Earlier this week, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said EDSA bus lanes may be phased out when the rider capacity of the MRT-3 increases.

Bautista confirmed such proposal was mentioned during a "private meeting" between them, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., MMDA, and DILG.

During the said meeting, it was mentioned that the busway seemed to be just a replication of the MRT-3 route, which Bautista said "was not necessarily correct."

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"Sinabi na sa ngayon, ang EDSA busway ay a very efficient system from Monumento to PITX," Bautista said.

"Nagkaroon lang ng discussion dyan, pero di naman tatanggalin," he clarified.

Bautista said the DOTr expects to finalize the privatization deal next year. 

"We're expecting that we will be able to award the operations and maintenance of EDSA busway by the end of 2026," he said.

According to Bautista, the DOTr has other plans to improve and expand the operation of the busway.

"Kasi 'yung EDSA busway ang tinitingnan namin d'yan, hindi lang 'yung EDSA carousel, pati 'yung possibility na magkaroon pa ng ibang buses coming from other destinations. Ngayon kasi umiikot lang s'ya eh," he said.

OTHER PROPOSALS

During the said meeting, government agencies also discussed other ways to address the "economic cost of traffic" in the Philippines.

"Pinag-usapan sa Metro Manila 'yung mga dapat gawin. Isa sa napag-usapan yung pag-alis ng [elevated] U-turn slot sa C5. Isa yan sa cause ng traffic," Bautista said.

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"Isa [rin] sa tinitingnan 'yung pagbabalik ng No Contact Apprehension Policy. Nagkaroon 'yan ng TRO, hihingi kami ng tulong sa Office of the President," he added.

The DOTr also confirmed talks regarding the future of bike lanes in EDSA.

"Sa EDSA, sabi ng MMDA ang gumagamit sa bike lane ay less 2k/day, mas marami ang gumagamit ang mga motorsiklo. Pinag-aaralang mabuti na gawing motorcycle lane 'yung bike lane. Maghahanap ng another phase para sa mga bisikleta. Dapat tingnan 'yung safety consideration, napakarami ng mga motorsiklo," he said.

"Pinag-aaralan ng MMDA na magkaroon ng dedicated motorcycle lane," Bautista added.

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