No proposal to construct toll road on EDSA, DOTr clarifies

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Friday clarified that it is not proposing for the construction of toll road along EDSA.

In a statement, the DOTr said the concept of establishing a toll road along EDSA has not been formally discussed yet by current officials of the department although it has been suggested by various stakeholders.

"This is an idea/concept suggested by various stakeholders, but has not been formally discussed yet by the present DOTr administration," it said.

Earlier reports quoted Assistant Secretary Bert Suansing, DOTr's road rector consultant, as saying that such idea is being studied by the department, with possible implementation in 2021.

The DOTr statement, however, quoted Suansing as saying that such suggestion was initially raised during the time of former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benjamin Abalos more than a decade ago.

"The DOTr welcomes suggestions that will improve mobility and order of public transportation. However, a suggestion does not translate automatically into a proposal nor a project for implementation. Like any project, it has to go through the proper process," the DOTr said. —Jamil Santos/KBK, GMA News