Business group calls for privatization of EDSA Busway, major rail lines

The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) has called for the total system upgrade and the privatization of the EDSA Busway and Bus Service, and privatization of commuter railway systems, in a bid to improve the commuter experience in Metro Manila.

In a statement, MAP proposed the increase of the capacity of busway station platforms to accommodate more commuters, and to provide for the simultaneous docking of buses.

It also called for the construction of more stations to close the gap between stations and footbridges, and to fast-track the construction of donated busway station footbridges.

The groups also pushed for the augmentation of vehicles in the EDSA Carousel, the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3), the Light Rail Transit Lines 1 and 2 (LRT1 and LRT2), and the Philippine National Railway (PNR).

“MAP also urged the DOTr to consider the privatization of the EDSA busway and bus service, and urban commuter rail systems, consisting of the MRT3, LRT2 and PNR Commuter lines, under the so-called hybrid mode,” it said in an emailed statement.

Under the hybrid mode, the private concessionaire will take over the operations and services, and maintain the facilities under an operate and maintenance (O&M) concession.

The Metro Rail system is designed to cater to over 23,000 passengers per hour per direction, and is expandable to accommodate 48,000 passengers per hour, per direction.

Stations of the rail line are located in North Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Kamuning, Cubao, and Santolan-Annapolis in Quezon City; Ortigas Avenue in Pasig City; Shaw Boulevard and Boni Avenue in Mandaluyong City; Guadalupe, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia), Ayala Avenue, and Magallanes Avenue in Makati City; and Taft Avenue in Pasay City.

The administration of the late former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III initiated a buyout of the MRT3 in 2013 with a P53-billion buyout from the MRT Corp., but the plan fell through.

The LRT1 connects Baclaran to Roosevelt through stations in EDSA, Libertad, Gil Puyat, Vito Cruz, Quirino, Pedro Gil, United Nations, Central Terminal, Carriedo, Doroteo Jose, Bambang, Tayuman, Blumentritt, Abad Santos, R. Papa, 5th Avenue, Yamaha Monumento, and Balintawak.

The Light Rail Manila Corp. took over the operations and maintenance (O&M) of the rail line in September 2015.

The LRT2 connects Antipolo to Recto through stations in Marikina, Santolan, Katipunan, Anonas, Araneta Cubao, Betty Go, Gilmore, J. Ruiz, V. Mapa, Pureza, and Legarda.

Meanwhile, the PNR connects Tutuban to Calamba through stations in Blumentritt, Laon Laan, España, Sta. Mesa, Pandacan, Paco, San Andres, Vito Cruz, Buendia, Pasay Road, EDSA, Nichols, FTI, Bicutan, Sucat, Alabang, Muntinlupa, San Pedro in Laguna, Pacita MG, Golden City, Biñan, Sta. Rosa, Cabuyao, and Mamatid.

The MAP said it has already offered to work with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and other private sector stakeholders to craft the terms of reference (TOR) for the bidding of concessions.

Aside from this, the MAP also called on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to issue an executive order mandating all relevant agencies to comply with the National Transport Plan of 2017.

Under the measure, the MAP said the government will prioritize people mobility through public transportation and active mobility such as walking and biking by allocating road spaces for such purposes.

“Currently, busway station platforms and sidewalks are very narrow and grossly inadequate as the space required for them were allocated instead to augment private vehicle lanes pursuant to misguided car-oriented road management policy,” MAP said. —KG, GMA News