The Department of Transportation and the Metro Manila Development Authority inaugurate the EDSA-Philam Busway Station, which is equipped with three elevators each on both the southbound and northbound sides, to assist commuters who are pregnant, disabled, or senior citizens on July 15, 2024.  Jire Carreon, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista on Monday said several proponents are interested in the privatization of the EDSA Busway system.

• EDSA Busway may be privatized through bidding: DOTr 

The project involved the operations and maintenance of the busway system.

“Actually meron nang nagbigay ng interest, pero we cannot divulge their identity, [but] more than 1, meron naman,” he added.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) had earlier said it returned the unsolicited proposal submitted by Megawide Construction Corp. to operate and maintain the EDSA Busway Carousel since it is eyeing to open the bidding instead.

• Aside from buses, who else can use EDSA carousel lane? 

This was in line with the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) law, Bautista earlier said.

IMPROVED PHILAM EDSA BUS STATION 

Bautista on Monday also joined MMDA acting chairman Romando Artes in inaugurating the latest EDSA Busway Station at EDSA-Philam. 

This station is an addition to 4 existing EDSA bus stations with man lifts or elevators designed to help senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs).

• DOTR eyes elevated walkways along EDSA 

According to DOTr, the government funded this project worth P97.5 million from the 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA). 

Other 4 bus stations include Guadalupe in Makati, Balintawak station in Quezon City and Bagong Barrio and Monumento stations in Caloocan City. The stations are now equipped with 3 elevators each or a total of 15 man lifts.

The MMDA said another newly constructed station is at Kamuning Station. 

Bautista said more improvements are being made in the EDSA busway including the construction of more footbridges and enhancements of PWD ramps, among others.

• Management group backs upgrade, privatization of EDSA busway, railways

The government has also installed a Smart Traffic Surveillance System with 166 CCTVs. 

The DOTR said it will ask the Department of Budget and Management and the House of Representatives for additional funding next year to fund more projects like this along EDSA. 

MMDA meanwhile said 2 EDSA bus stations namely Bagong Barrio in Caloocan City and Guadalupe in Makati were deliberately damaged in April and June which resulted in breaking the glass panel of the elevators. 

Artes said these were immediately replaced by its contractors without additional cost to the government.

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