Alyansa bets voice sentiments on EDSA busway, MRT-7

SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY — Amid the issue on the EDSA busway, some senatorial candidates from the Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas expressed their sentiments and proposals on the matter.

The EDSA busway again made it to headlines after Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rommel Marbil disclosed that some senior police officials had an emergency closed door meeting at Camp Crame Tuesday evening, which prompted the use of the said lane.

Former senator Panfilo Lacson, himself a former PNP chief, said that in order to prevent unauthorized vehicles from using the bus way, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) may consider studying the infrastructure reconfiguration to reverse the direction of buses passing through the bus lanes and make the problem solve itself.

“Nobody wants a head-on collision,” Lacson said in a press statement.

Meanwhile, former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said at a press briefing that he disagrees with the additional exemptions that are being eyed for those using the EDSA busway.

The EDSA busway, a dedicated bus lane, serves commuters from Caloocan City up to Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) in Parañaque City.

The DOTr had clarified before that the following vehicles are authorized to use the busway:

LTFRB-authorized buses for the EDSA busway route, including buses with special permits and/or franchises to operate on the EDSA busway route;

• on-duty ambulances, fire trucks, and Philippine National Police vehicles;
• service vehicles performing their duties for the EDSA Busway Project, including but not limited to construction, security, janitorial, and maintenance services within the EDSA Busway; and
•  the following top officials: President of the Philippines, Vice President of the Philippines, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

MRT-7

Other transportation issues were also tackled by the administration’s senatorial candidates for Eleksyon 2025.

To recall, the City of San Jose del Monte had sought the realignment of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7’s (MRT-7) route after consultations with stakeholders, who raised concerns about traffic congestion and the disruption of services.

Asked for their sentiments on MRT-7, Senator Francis Tolentino said this would ''clear up some bottlenecks specially in Commonwealth Avenue.''

''It will clear up some bottlenecks as you approach NLEX but again it would force some of our residents in Metro Manila to go areas such as San Jose Del Monte,'' Tolentino said.

Lawmaker Camille Villar, for her part, said this project would be among her priorities in the future.

''What happened in San Jose Del Monte with the MRT-7 is an excellent example that we should follow in other parts of the country to decongest the urban areas and to propel or mas mapabilis yung development and economic growth in other parts of the country,'' Villar said.

A former MMDA chairman, Benhur Abalos said the country should be prepared for train and subway systems. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News

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