MMDA mulls carpooling in EDSA busway
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is considering allowing high-occupancy vehicles carrying at least 10 passengers to use the EDSA busway.
In an interview on One News PH's Storycon, MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III shared that the agency is studying the proposal, which would promote carpooling.
"Isa sa mga iniisip ko na posible nating gawin—eto, this is not yet approved—ilalagay ko sa drawing table 'yung mga high-occupancy vehicles with maybe 10 or more people, pwede natin padaanin sa bus lane or special lanes para sa kanila, so that ma-encourage ang ating mga kababayan na mag-carpool."
Torre, a former Philippine National Police chief, echoed this in another interview with DZMM Teleradyo.
"Pag-iisipan natin at talagang if ever mangyari 'yan, eh lalagyan natin ng guidelines to ensure na makakatulong talaga ang programa, hindi sa lalo lang makakadagdag ng trapik," he said.
Elsewhere in the interview, Torre cited data mentioning the EDSA capacity is at 300,000, but 460,000 ply the highway daily. He said that transport network vehicle services help reduce the volume of vehicles.
Currently, vehicles that can use the EDSA busway are Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-authorized buses, emergency vehicles, and the country's top five officials. This includes the President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to "provide assistance in the performance of their duties.
Unauthorized use of the EDSA busway will be meted with a penalty of a P5,000 fine for first offense; P10,000 fine, one-month suspension of driver's license, and requirement to undergo road safety seminar for second offense; P20,000 and one-year suspension of driver's license for third offense; and P30,000 and recommendation to the Land Transportation Office for revocation of license for fourth offense.