MANILA, Philippines — Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) intends to push through with its plan to develop a bus rapid transit system (BRT) along the elevated Skyway Stage 3 expressway.
With the Skyway Stage 3 now operational, SMC said it is planning to make the BRT system a reality to improve travel and support sustainable transportation.
“As early as 2017, we had been considering the BRT system on the Skyway to further decongest traffic in Metro Manila and transform the commuting experience of many Filipinos,” SMC president Ramon Ang said yesterday.
Ang said studies are being undertaken and a plan is being formulated for the proposed BRT system.
He said the plan would be presented to the Department of Transportation once ready.
“We’re excited to start discussions on this. The most important thing is that the platform is already here – the completed elevated Skyway system and this BRT or high-capacity P2P system will make commutes faster and better for motorists,” Ang said.
The BRT system will utilize the Skyway for buses that will transport large number of passengers at a time and stopping only at designated stations at set intervals.
The system may also resemble a high-capacity point-to-point bus system, according to SMC.
“Lessening the vehicles competing for road space is how elevated expressways ease traffic – as we have seen now on EDSA. This also means improving the daily commutes of Filipinos taking public transportation,” Ang said.
The BRT system is initially eyed to run on the Skyway system from Susanna Heights to Balintawak.
“Our expressways are designed not just for motorists, but also to serve as a platform for efficient and sustainable mass transportation,” Ang said.
He said many motorists would choose an efficient public transport system over driving their own vehicles, provided it will be easy to use, safe, affordable and comfortable.
“We believe our elevated expressways are critical to solving Metro Manila’s traffic congestion, which we can only expect to worsen in the coming years as our population and our economy grow. We can’t afford not take action now, and we can’t make do with temporary or inadequate fixes anymore,” Ang said.