Public transport, particularly the EDSA Busway, will remain operational and be prioritized once the EDSA rebuild begins on June 13, according to Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon.
Speaking at a press conference at the MMDA headquarters in Pasig City, Dizon emphasized that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is focused on serving the 200,000 daily commuters using the busway.
“Ang priority ni [President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.], yung 200,000 na commuters na gumagamit ng busway araw-araw,” said Dizon.
To accommodate the expected surge in commuters and ease traffic congestion, 100 additional buses will be deployed along the EDSA carousel route. The MMDA will also implement traffic schemes aimed at reducing private vehicle use on EDSA.
“Alam natin na magkaka-aberya, mas magkaka-traffic ng matindi, ang sabi ng Pangulo gawan ng paraan para maibsan ang aberya. Kailangan maghanap tayo ng ibang paraan,” Dizon added.
As the EDSA rebuild begins with the inner lane, the busway barriers will be adjusted to ensure continuous operation. Only two buses per station will be allowed to wait for passengers, and a strict 30-second loading time will be enforced to maintain flow.
Changes will also be made to MRT-3 operations to improve efficiency. X-ray machines will be removed to speed up queues, based on practices in other countries. However, security will remain tight with more Philippine Coast Guard and K9 units deployed.
The MRT-3 will increase capacity by deploying more trains and operating more four-car trains.
DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan confirmed that the EDSA rebuild will run from June 13 to 2027. The project includes upgrading road pavements, drainage systems, and pedestrian lanes to address traffic and flooding concerns.