Much hullabaloo was involved with the EDSA Busway last week. From implementation and enforcement of new fines and penalties to apprehending stubborn motorists to the “extension of courtesy” towards government officials to the suspension of NTFSOU Head Col. Bong Nebrija, the MMDA had its hands pretty full. To finally set the record straight, the Metro Manila Development Authority has published a new list of vehicles that can legally traverse along the exclusive bus lane. What vehicles are these, exactly?
EDSA Busway can only be used by the vehicles in the list(s) below
Much confusion was brought about by the previous list of allowed vehicles along the EDSA Busway. The previous list included “clearly-marked government vehicles”; that pretty much covers those vehicles that belong to politicians too, right? After some misinformation and a misunderstanding between a Senator and the head of the MMDA NTFSOU, the latter has since been suspended and the agency sought clarification on who can legally use the exclusive bus lane aside from, well, buses. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has answered as of November 14, 2023.
To summarize the list you see above, these are the primary vehicles that are allowed along the bus lane along EDSA:
- LTFRB-approved Buses, including those with Special Permits/franchises for the EDSA Busway route
- ON-DUTY ambulances, fire trucks, and PNP Vehicles
- EDSA Busway Project Service Vehicles (construction, janitorial, maintenance)
As a courtesy to the higher-ranking government officials, those in the Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary will continue to be afforded use of the bus lane. However, not everyone in the Legislative and Judiciary branches of the Government can do so. Very specifically, the only ones from these branches of government are as follows:
- President
- Vice-President
- Senate President
- Speaker of the House of Representatives
- Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
As far as government officials go, these are the only ones who can use the exclusive bus lane along EDSA.
To further stress the exclusivity of the Busway, the MMDA and its other authorized personnel will apprehend you even if you are a “clearly-marked government vehicle” or even if your vehicle has a red license plate. If you do not fall in the list of vehicles as seen above, then please, do not even attempt to use the EDSA Busway anymore. If you do and decide to run, you’re in for a very big fine and penalty and trust us, it’s not going to be worth it.
We hope this clears everything and that everyone can now follow the rules governing the use of the EDSA Busway. Rules are rules, and if we choose not to follow them, we’ll have bigger problems in store for everyone, and that’s never a good thing.
Please be responsible drivers and motorists.
Pwede tow truck sa bus lane?