Photo courtesy of Joan Bondoc – Philippine News Agency (PNA).
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it would study a proposal to allow high-occupancy vehicles on the EDSA Busway.
Transportation Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez had previously stressed that the busway should remain exclusive to buses.
MMDA Chair Don Artes said the proposal came from General Manager Nicolas Torre III, but similar ideas were raised by former MMDA leadership in 2018.
“And in our study, many issues have emerged,” Artes said in Filipino, citing concerns over how the plan could be implemented.
He explained that counting passengers, checking tinted windows, and deciding whether additional occupants such as helpers or bodyguards should be allowed were major challenges.
Artes added that the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) had concerns about distinguishing legitimate carpools from colorum vehicles, which could encourage illegal operations.
The MMDA chief emphasized that buses must remain a priority because they can carry up to 50 passengers, and he noted that any changes required approval from the Department of Transportation (DOTr).