‘Clearly marked government vehicles’ now banned on EDSA busway

MANILA, Philippines — Starting tomorrow, “clearly marked government vehicles” will be prohibited from using the EDSA Bus Carousel or busway, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

In updating which vehicles are allowed on the busway, acting MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said in a press briefing last Nov. 16 that these government vehicles “have been excluded from the list.”

He said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) released the updated list of vehicles allowed to go through the EDSA Bus Carousel: buses authorized by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board including those that carry special permits; on-duty ambulances, fire trucks and police vehicles and service vehicles involved in the maintenance of the busway.

The updated list also included convoys of the President, Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker and Chief Justice, according to the DOTr.

Drivers of other vehicles not mentioned in the list may be fined up to P30,000 and face the revocation of their driver’s license.

Business group Management Association of the Philippines slammed the inclusion of the top five officials among users of the busway, saying it would defeat its purpose, which was to carry commuters without going through vehicular congestion.

Among vehicles flagged down for illegally using the busway were service vehicles of various government agencies carrying their personnel.

The policy also caused a stir when two lawmakers were recently tagged as violators. The issue led to the suspension of MMDA’s Task Force Special Operations chief Edison Nebrija.