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NewsTranscript
00:00We're still here at the North Avenue Station of the EDSA Bus Carousel
00:04because one of the recommendations of the government
00:07to reduce the heavy traffic here in EDSA
00:10is to remove the EDSA Busway.
00:12But we have seen how much of a big help
00:15for many of our countrymen
00:19is the efficient system here in the EDSA Busway.
00:23Their transportation here in the buses.
00:26Back in 2020, the EDSA Busway was installed
00:30to have unhampered or continuous routes
00:34and trips for public transportation,
00:37particularly for the buses that our countrymen will ride.
00:40But this is what will be reduced
00:44by some officials because we know
00:47that this EDSA Bus Carousel is only for buses
00:51and emergency vehicles
00:52that will respond to emergency cases.
00:54It's also for the top five officials
00:57of our government.
00:58President, Vice President, Senate President,
01:00House Speaker, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
01:03But that's why the operation
01:09of the MMDA Traffic Enforcers
01:10to catch those buses was postponed.
01:12Earlier, we talked about
01:13that one of the passengers
01:16hopes that this EDSA Busway will not be removed.
01:18Still on the issue of traffic here in EDSA,
01:22we will talk to Transportation Undersecretary
01:25for Road Transport and Infrastructure,
01:27Jesus Ferdinand-Andy Ortega.
01:29Good morning to you, Joseph-Andy Ortega.
01:32This is Maris. Let's go live to the first news.
01:35Maris, good morning.
01:37Good morning to all of us.
01:39Good morning.
01:43Alright, first of all,
01:45with your help,
01:47together with President Bongbong Marcos,
01:49you suggested that this EDSA Busway should be removed
01:52and there should be a congestion fee
01:56for four-wheel vehicles.
01:58First of all, what was the basis
02:01or the basis to suggest
02:03these suggestions
02:06to reduce the traffic in EDSA?
02:08Is there a study that if this is removed
02:11and there will be a congestion fee,
02:13the traffic here in EDSA will really increase?
02:16First of all, as far as I know,
02:18this is a study between the MMDA
02:22and an organization
02:24on how to help,
02:26suggestions about traffic.
02:28But this is a study
02:30and definitely,
02:32many agencies should be involved
02:35and involved in this discussion.
02:38That's why on the part of DOTR, Maris,
02:40we issued a statement
02:42that definitely,
02:43the service provided by the bus carousel
02:46will continue.
02:47Millions of people benefit from this.
02:50And we have plans
02:52to expand this bus carousel
02:55so that we can help more
02:59of our commuters here in Metro Manila.
03:07So how big is the possibility
03:08that this EDSA busway will be removed later on?
03:12And I'm also saying that this will only happen
03:15if the capacity of the MRT is increased.
03:18Is there a timetable
03:20on how fast this will happen?
03:24You know, the MRT and bus carousel,
03:28they complement one another.
03:30It is not a choice between MRT or bus carousel.
03:35They can continue to be together
03:38because especially now,
03:40we have a plan and this will be released.
03:43We will also expand the bus carousel.
03:45It will extend to Monumento.
03:47It will extend further to PICX.
03:50We are talking of Fairview, Alabang,
03:53and we're talking of more buses
03:56that will enter here, more stations.
03:58So we can see that the bus carousel
04:01because on the streets,
04:03we can see that we are helping
04:06our ordinary citizens
04:09that every day we need to help them enter.
04:16All right, so if we base
04:18what we heard from you,
04:21it looks like it will happen,
04:23this EDSA busway will be removed.
04:26As far as I can see, we will increase it
04:29and we will add more stations and buses
04:33because first of all, it is not only efficient,
04:36our bus fare is cheaper
04:39as compared to other modes of transportation.
04:42So maybe we will look for other ways
04:45to help the traffic.
04:47Because here at DOTR,
04:49what is important to us
04:51is that we move people.
04:54We need to move a lot of people
04:56to big cars.
04:57And that is the contribution of DOTR
05:00to our traffic problem,
05:02especially in Metro Manila.
05:08Yusef, the creation of congestion fee
05:10for four-wheel vehicles passing through EDSA,
05:13how feasible is it?
05:16First of all, it is just six studies.
05:19Definitely, there are a lot of things
05:21that need to be discussed.
05:23I do believe that it is being done in other countries,
05:26in other cities,
05:28but it is being done
05:30if the mode of transportation is good,
05:33if there is a good alternative
05:35for our private motorists
05:37so that they have a reason
05:39not to use their cars.
05:41They will go to public transport
05:44which is very convenient
05:46when that time comes.
05:48Maybe that is the best angle
05:50because we are giving our motorists
05:52a good option
05:54for them to have a reason
05:56not to use their cars
05:58and then for the government or agencies
06:00to impose some kind of a fee.
06:02But that is one thing
06:04that needs to be studied
06:06and a lot more needs to be included
06:08and given to our motorists
06:10before those things can be implemented.
06:16All right.
06:17The people are hoping for a good study
06:19before our various agencies
06:21and government agencies
06:23can be implemented.
06:25Thank you very much for your time
06:27and for the information you gave us.
06:29Transportation Undersecretary
06:31for Road, Transport and Infrastructure
06:33Jesus Ferdinand Andy Ortega.
06:35Good morning to all of you.
06:37Thank you all. Good morning.
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