San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan – As back-to-back violations have hyped up discussions on the EDSA busway, former Senator Panfilo Lacson has proposed a novel solution: reverse the traffic flow.
“Gawin nating counterflow yung bus sa EDSA, yung northbound hayaan mong maging southbound, let the problem solve itself,” Lacson said during a press conference of the administration senatorial slate Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan on Friday, Feb.28.
[Translation: Let the buses on EDSA counterflow, let the northbound become southbound, and let the problem solve itself.]
Lacson said this system is in place in other cities, such as Taipei in Taiwan.
“Lahat iiwas sa head-on collision. At saka wala nang exempted,” he added.
[Translation: Everyone will avoid a head-on collision. And there will be no more exemptions]
The former lawmaker suggested that the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) should review his proposal and assess if the current infrastructure would allow the reversal of bus directions.
Former Senate President Tito Sotto, for his part, maintained that there should be no additional exemptions for the use of the EDSA busway.
“‘Di agahan mo ang alis ‘di ba? Bakit magkakaroon sila ng exemption? I drive myself everyday so I know how it is ‘no so agahan mo ang lakad mo. Bakit presidente ka ba ng Pilipinas para exempted ka sa busway? Hindi pwede ‘yon,” he said.
[Translation: Just leave earlier, right? Why should they have an exemption? I drive myself every day, so I know how it is, just leave earlier. Are you the president of the Philippines to be exempted from the busway? That can’t be.]
Malacañang reminded the Philippine National Police that “emergency” situations are not a blanket excuse to disregard busway rules.
