FROM THE LOOKS of it, the EDSA Busway – designed exclusively for buses plying the entire EDSA stretch called the Bus Carousel program – was an unplanned, whimsical program for the purpose of grandstanding by those in office and to raise funds that only the Metro Manila Development Authority knows where the income goes.
With the fines starting at P5,000 for first offense, the busway has seen numerous violators – or those unauthorized vehicles taking the one-lane portion of the main highway. Many of them were identified as politicians, police officials, showbiz and business personalities, and scions of influential people.
Obviously, some used the busway deliberately to gain media mileage. There were a few cases that boasted of huge payments (or payout) to MMDA’s highest officials.
Come to think of it, the busway now seems like more of a nuisance to public commuters. First, it made commuting experience doubly difficult for most as they had to cross and walk many meters to get to the footbridges to the area where they could take their ride at the designated Bus Carousel stops. Second, it cost them a lot more because the fares in the entire experiment (yes, I call it just an ill-planned experiment) is far more than the regular they used to pay when they could still take the buses at the designated stops at the outer lane of the road.
SCRAP THE ‘CAROUSEL’!
The MMDA hinted at a Palace briefing that the national government wants to scrap the EDSA Bus Carousel as it overlaps with Metro Rail Transit 3 route which makes no sense to me as one is elevated and the other is street level.
But this could come only if MRT3 can handle all the passengers relying on the buses and if and when the country’s train system is fully interconnected.
See, this is how they work. Toss an idea, get a public pulse, and then decide. There is no actual consultation with experts and designers on the appropriate actions to take?
Concerned agencies must fix the traffic first in EDSA before imposing fees. This is only possible if there is already efficient mass transport system.
SEAMLESS RIDE
In 2024, claims the MMDA, 63 million people were served by the Bus Carousel, serving the same road system with MRT. But MRT’s 13 stations runs from North Avenue Station in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay City. While buses along EDSA traverses Monumento in Caloocan City to PITX in Paranaque City with 21 stops.
The EDSA Bus Carousel operates 24 hours seven days a week, serving late night and early morning riders. Under limited time, MRT-3 leaves the North Avenue station at 5:05 a.m. and at 10:09 p.m. for the last train.
Senator Grace Poe, former chair of the Senate Public Services Committee, pointed out that mass transportation should offer a seamless and comfortable ride to commuters to encourage vehicle owners to leave their cars at home.
EDSA REHABILITATION
In the meantime, EDSA would be rehabilitated beginning March in time for the ASEAN Summit 2026. But it faces challenges with potholes and drainage in EDSA, which had been flooding for years, where utilities like telcos and water and electric companies have cables that encroach over and below the EDSA stretch.
Once the rehabilitation is completed, smoother roads will ease congestion allowing vehicles to move faster and improve traffic conditions in the main thoroughfare. Alternate routes must also be identified for use during the rehab.
H.O.V. AT THE BUSLANE
The MMDA has another brilliant idea should the carousel project be stopped: convert the busway into a high-occupancy vehicle lane or those with three or more passengers, and an AI camera will take note of the passengers in motor vehicles.
Tinted vehicles will be required to roll down the windows for the headcount. Violators will be fined. Another source of income, always about money.
Another road users tax? The old one was riddled with corruption, which is why it was stopped. Not another one again!
Senator Grace Poe told concerned agencies to fix the traffic first in EDSA before imposing fees.
That would happen if there are already alternatives and if there is already efficient mass transportation.
