Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 16) — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday reiterated that there are only special cases when other vehicles can use the EDSA busway apart from buses on the carousel route.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source, Charlie del Rosario, chief of the DOTr’s Command and Control Operations Center, said on-duty ambulances, fire trucks, and police vehicles can pass through the lane.
When it comes to other government vehicles, only those “performing duties and responsibilities within the busway” are permitted to use the route. This includes those that provide construction, security, janitorial and maintenance services within the lane.
This provision also covers government authorities, like the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), that enforce traffic rules along the busway, Del Rosario said.
The official said there will also be special situations wherein a government vehicle not initially identified may be allowed to pass through. Del Rosario’ s example was when the Department of Social Welfare and Development needed to respond to a disaster.
He noted the department should first notify the DOTr that they will respond to an emergency. Once authorized, this will be communicated to traffic enforcers to ensure the concerned vehicle will not be blocked.
Del Rosario emphasized that private vehicles who have an “emergency” are not allowed to use the busway.
“The easiest thing to do is to give such reason, but we are not doctors to determine whether the reason is correct or wrong,” he said. “If indeed it is an emergency, it should have been coordinated with the ambulance or the hospital.”
MMDA chairman Romando Artes said in a briefing that authorities will strictly implement the bus lane policy on Nov. 20, Monday.
On Wednesday, MMDA Task Force Special Operations Unit Head Bong Nebrija was handed down a preventive suspension order after an incident along the EDSA busway where a vehicle whose driver claimed to be part of the convoy of Sen. Bong Revilla was allowed to use the EDSA bus carousel lane.
Revilla denied he was apprehended by authorities, while the MMDA apologized to the senator and said it will investigate what happened.
The driver who name-dropped Revilla will soon face the MMDA. He will be penalized ₱5,000 if proven that he violated traffic rules.
