12 of 16 new EDSA bus stops ready to use —MMDA

Twelve of the 16 news bus stops established along EDSA are ready for operations, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Sunday.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialogo said that the other four bus stops—at Buendia, Taft, Kamuning and Pasay—are still awaiting their clearance from the Department of Public Works and Highways.

“Ngayon po halos 80 percent po kumpleto na mga bus stops natin,” Pialago said.

She said the 12 bus stops already have waiting sheds, markings, and fences. The concrete barriers and steel separators will also be installed soon, she added.

Aside from the barriers and separators, Pialago said the MMDA is also waiting for the elevators, which will be used by senior citizens.

Meanwhile, Pialago said, only 550 city buses will be authorized to operate along the route of Monumento to Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange.

“Ang authorized units lang po sa bus way natin ay 550 po so ‘yong nakasanayan po natin noong January, February na 2,500, hindi na ganiyang karaming city buses ang makikita natin sa bus way,” she said.

“Organisado ho, sistematiko ang pag-dispatch ng city buses na ito so ‘di po iyan magsisiksikan,” Pialago added.

She also said the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board are still assessing whether to add more buses.

“Dahil po sa tinatawag nating calibrated response, ‘yong sinasagawa na everyday assessment ng DOTr at LTFRB, hindi po malabong madagdagan ‘yan depende po sa pangangailangan,” Pialago said.

According to a report on 24 Oras Weekend, the MMDA is also planning the closure of 15 U-turn slots along EDSA to give way to city buses.

Because the second bus lane is located at the left-most part of the highway, Pialago said affected U-turn slots such as the following will be closed when the lanes are fully operational:

• Balintawak
• Kaingin
• Landers
• Dario Bridge
• Waltermart
• Quezon City Academy
• Trinoma
• Timog
• Santolan
• EDSA-Taft
• Heritage Hotel
• De Jesus
• General Tinio
• Malvar
• Biglang Awa

Pialago, however, said the MMDA will provide alternative routes and U-turn slots above EDSA such as Aurora and Ayala will remain open.

She also added that the MMDA is targeting to complete curbside bus stops in August or September. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News