CAPTION: An artist's rendering of the planned elevated EDSA walkway. ADB handout

MANILA -- The Department of Transportation is planning to improve walkways along EDSA by elevating parts where foot traffic is heaviest, a transport official said Thursday.  

DOTR Undersecretary Jesus Ferdinand "Andy" Ortega said in a televised briefing that the "Greenways Project" aims to help lessen traffic in one of the busiest thoroughfares in Metro Manila. 

"Iyong corners na napag-usapan natin naii-stop ang traffic dahil may dumadaan tayong mga tao o tumatawid or  iyong ating commuters," Ortega said.

(We were talking about some corners where traffic stops because some people are passing by or commuters are crossing the road.)

"Ang plano natin dito ay i-elevate natin iyan para instead of walking sa baba, sa kalye which will affect our traffic, gagawin iyan sa taas. Para siyang walkway na mas safe, convenient at mas maayos. May mga lilim iyan," he added. 

(Our plan is to elevate those parts so instead of walking on the streets, which will affect our traffic, they can walk along a walkway above. This is safer, more convenient, and more orderly. These will have roofs.)

The DOTR is also finalizing plans to privatize the EDSA Bus Carousel to improve commuter experience. 

"At the moment we will definitely privatize iyong ating busway pero mayroong studies tayo sa DOTr, and also unsolicited advice. So DOTR will have a final decision  on this matter, taking into account iyong sinabi ng ating Pangulo to really improve the service," he said. 

(At the moment we are definitely privatizing our busway, but we have studies from the DOTr and also unsolicited advice. So DOTR will have a final decision  on this matter, taking into account what the president said to really improve the service.)

Management group backs upgrade, privatization of EDSA busway, railways

Under the plan, DOTR will add more bus stops and increase the number of buses plying along EDSA. 

"Iyong certain number of buses that we are using, we have to adjust if we have to add para ma-meet natin iyong requirements ng ating commuters," he said.

(We might adjust the number of buses that we are using to meet our commuters' requirements.) 

TRANSPORT STRIKE

Usec Ortega also said  that government is prepared for another transport strike by groups PISTON and Manibela on April 29 and 30. 

The groups will be allowed to hold their protests, as long as they do not commit any "violation", Ortega explained. 

"We will be very very strict, hindi po natin pwede hayaan iyong ating mga kasamahan na mag-cause ng traffic. Hindi po natin hayaan  iyong ating mga kasamahan, sa sektor ng transportation na parang maabala po ang ating commuters and mananakay at nagmamaneho," he added. 

(We will be very very strict, we won't let our fellow drivers cause traffic. We won't let our friends in the transportation sector disturb passengers and those who still drive.)

DOTr shrugs off threat of more transport strikes ahead of April 30 consolidation deadline

The PUV modernization program requires jeepney operators to consolidate individual franchises into a single franchise under a cooperative or corporation by April 30, 2024. Failure to do so could revoke their permits to operate, authorities earlier said.

These two transport groups continue to oppose the franchise consolidation of jeepneys, saying that  "modern jeepneys" are too expensive and will deprive single-unit operators of route franchises that will then go to big corporations and to transport cooperatives.

"Nagsalita na ang Pangulo natin na (The President has spoken that) April 30 is really firm and final na po na (for) consolidation. May ibang mga humabol but we are satisfied po sa numero ng ating consolidation," Ortega said.

(There are those who tried to catch up, but we are already satisfied with our consolidation numbers.)