Starting Monday, November 20, 2023, only five VIPs and some authorized vehicles will be allowed to use the EDSA Busway, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced.
The five VIPs are the President, Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker, and Chief Justice. They can use the busway anytime, regardless of the number coding scheme.
“Lima lang po ang pinapayagan na rito, maliban po doon sa mga pwedeng dumaan tulad ng on-duty ambulances, fire trucks, Philippine National Police (PNP) at saka iyong mga service vehicle ng mga government agency na involved sa EDSA Busway project,” del Rosario said.
(There are only five that are allowed to pass through here, that’s aside from on-duty ambulances, fire trucks, PNP, and service vehicles of government agencies involved in the EDSA busway)
Emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks, and police and military vehicles on official functions can also use the busway, aside from Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-authorized buses.
The MMDA previously asked the DOTr to clarify and update the list of vehicles that can use the EDSA busway. This was after Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. was mistakenly identified and allowed to pass through the busway by MMDA Task Force Special Operations Unit Chief Bong Nebrija.
The MMDA will strictly enforce the use of the EDSA Busway and penalize violators. According to MMDA Regulation No. 23-002, the increased fines are as follows:
- First offense: ₱5,000
- Second offense: ₱10,000 plus one month suspension of driver’s license and required to undergo a road safety seminar
- Third offense: ₱20,000 plus one year suspension of driver’s license
- Fourth offense: ₱30,000 plus recommendation to Land Transportation Office for revocation of driver’s license
The EDSA Busway is a dedicated lane for buses that runs from Monumento in Caloocan City to SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. It was launched in June 2020 as part of the government’s efforts to decongest EDSA and provide a safer and more efficient mode of transport during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the MMDA, the EDSA Busway has reduced the travel time of commuters from two to three hours to 45 minutes to one hour. It also serves an average of 182,000 passengers per day.
Motorists are urged to respect the busway and follow the traffic rules and regulations. It also advised commuters to check the bus schedules and routes.
Source
Featured image: Motorists apprehended by the MMDA for using EDSA Buslane (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)
