More EDSA busway funding sought

MANILA, Philippines — A business group is urging the government to allocate more funds for the EDSA busway system “to complete the badly needed infrastructure component of this long-delayed project.”

“Congress has the opportunity to provide the budget for vital busway-dedicated stations, which can be completed in 2026 when bid out in batches to large reputable contractors,” the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) said in a letter dated Sept. 24.

New stations should be established along Kamuning, Cubao/Araneta, Santolan, Camp Aguinaldo, Corinthian Gardens, Highway Hills, Estrella street (Rockwell), Ayala/EDSA, Magallanes, Malibay, F.B. Harrison, MOA/J. Diokno, Aseana/Macapagal and PITX, the group proposed.

Busway stations are needed due to overcrowded Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) stations, they said.

About 100,000 commuters are accessing the busway through MRT-3 stations, they said.

“In addition to other ancillary facilities, the system must be equipped with overhead bridgeways to the station platforms along the road median beside the MRT-3 trackway, and provided with convenient access for physically challenged commuters,” the MAP said.

Aside from dedicated bus stations, the group also recommended finalizing a schematic busway system plan that will link Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City and other major routes, such as Quezon Avenue, C5, Sucat and Alabang Zapote.

“To date, there has been no meaningful budget allocation for this infrastructure, except for a few hundred million pesos, while the busway project has been waiting for the long-delayed privatization to happen,” the group lamented.

“The EDSA busway is the only mass transport system that can be completed within one year and it should be done as soon as possible,” the MAP added.

The group acknowledged the government and private sector’s efforts in building EDSA busway stations in Guadalupe, Buendia, Taft Avenue, Roxas Boulevard, North EDSA and Ortigas – the last two provided by the private sector and under construction.

MAP president Alfredo Panlilio and transportation and infrastructure committee chairman Eduardo Yap signed the letter addressed to acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez.