MMDA gets P33 million budget for EDSA bus program

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) received yesterday a P33-million budget from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to prepare for the rationalized bus route system along EDSA during the “new normal.”

MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago said the budget would finance the construction of bus stops and pedestrian overpasses that would start in June.

The MMDA would start implementing the dedicated single bus lane on Monday, the start of the general community quarantine.

Pending the construction of the bus stops on select center islands along EDSA, buses would load and unload passengers on the rightmost lane along North Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Ayala and Taft Avenue.

In between the designated loading and unloading zones, buses should cross to the leftmost lane in a “merging and splitting traffic” scheme, the MMDA spokersperson said.

This means passengers who would like to get off between Ayala and Quezon Avenue – like Cubao, Ortigas and Shaw Boulevard – are advised to take the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) instead, Pialago added.

Speaking to One News’ “The Chiefs” on Friday night, MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia said passengers may cross EDSA through five MRT-3 stations and two Light Rail Transit stations to the center islands where they could board the bus.

The MMDA would also spearhead the construction of stairways and lifters on the center of eight footbridges along EDSA.

The DOTr is still studying the feasibility and safety of having more pedestrian lanes along EDSA, Garcia added.