‘Mt. Kamuning’ replaced with safer, lower footbridge

MANILA, Philippines — The much-criticized footbridge dubbed “Mt. Kamuning” will soon be demolished as the government opened yesterday a new pedestrian walkway, which is more accessible to commuters, especially to persons with disabilities and the elderly. President Marcos inspected yesterday the newly built P55-million footbridge and concourse along the EDSA busway Kamuning station.

Marcos said the old structurewould soon be demolished.

“We will remove Mt. Kamuning,” the President said. “The first time we saw it... I said what they built was not practical. We had it fixed. We promised (to fix it in) six months. It was completed in four months.”

The infamous “Mt. Kamuning,” a nine-meter-high pedestrian bridge with 154 steps, has drawn public flak because of its steep elevation and accessibility issues.

The President, First Lady Liza Marcos, their son Vincent, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez experienced firsthand the plight of commuters when they climbed the old Kamuning footbridge.

“The old one is not very good at all,” Marcos said.

He noted that some 750,000 passengers use the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) and the EDSA busway daily, making the Kamuning station an important structure for Metro Manila commuters.

The new Kamuning footbridge is equipped with elevators and wheelchair lifts.

It also provides direct access to the Kamuning busway station platform to make traveling more convenient for pedestrians transferring between the MRT-3 and the EDSA Carousel.

Marcos also visited the newly rehabilitated Kamuning busway station, which has expanded and cleaner platforms, improved waiting sheds, updated wayfinding signage, a transit map and fare matrix, security pods as well as station personnel outposts.