Military vehicles barred from using EDSA bus lanes

MANILA, Philippines  — Military vehicles and soldiers using their private cars are prohibited from using the lanes designated for public utility buses along EDSA.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines issued a memorandum yesterday ordering AFP personnel to keep off the EDSA bus lanes.

“Those who will be caught by traffic enforcers or reported by concerned citizens for driving along the bus lanes in any part of EDSA will face disciplinary actions,” the memorandum read.

AFP chief Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. said the directive aims to assist transportation authorities in speeding up travel time and manage the flow of traffic along EDSA.

“The support that we are getting from the people does not excuse our wrong behavior. Our rank does not give us authority to violate laws and policies,” Santos said.

The military issued the order amid reports of uniformed personnel, who are considered frontliners in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, using bus lanes on EDSA.

The government set up the lanes exclusively for buses along EDSA to speed up travel considering limited public transportation in Metro Manila due to quarantine restrictions.