MMDA says strictly implementing EDSA yellow lanes to encourage use of public transport

The strict enforcement of yellow lanes along EDSA for buses is meant to encourage more people to use public transportation instead of taking their private vehicles.

In an interview on News To Go, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Emerson Carlos said on Wednesday that the  enforcement prohibiting private vehicle owners and taxi drivers from bus lanes will hasten travel times and ultimately benefit everyone on the road.

"Ang pinakaend-goal po natin dito ay kung sa'n magkakaroon po ng mas mabilis na lane yung mga buses in such a way na yung mga commuters natin, mga road users natin, would rather na sumakay sila ng bus kesa na magdala sila ng sasakyan nila and with that mind shift, that behavior, ay mababawasan din po natin yung mga private vehicles," Carlos said.

Authorities are making a "radical shift" in enforcing the rule as Metro Manila's roads continue to get more overloaded.

"Focus po natin ngayon e yung mga tao at hindi na po yung mga sasakyan. Kaya nga po ngayon, gusto po nating maging efficient ang movement ng mga tao and one way to do that ay yung mga tao lumipat po ng kanilang thinking na instead na gusto nilang sumakay ng private vehicles e pipiliin na lang po na sumakay ng mga buses natin,"  Carlos said.

On Monday, Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) will enforce the scheme on southbound side of Shaw Boulevard to Guadalupe, chosen for the few turns it had on its lane.

If they reach their end goal of providing a faster lane for buses and commuters at a deadline determined by a technical working group, the policy will expand to other areas of EDSA.

Public utility drivers will also be monitored to ensure the safety of commuters and motorists.

"Mama-manage din po natin 'to dahil makikita nila yung mga tao, dumadami na rin na sumasakay sa bus and may effect rin po ito. It's a challenge to us para sa mga implementors po dito sa EDSA kung pano po natin i-regulate at i-manage 'din po yung public utility buses in such a way na ang concern din nila ngayon this time is yung public," Carlos said.

Motorists who need to make a turn to areas covered by the area were advised to make gradual turns at a 100-meter distance to the establishment or turn to avoid getting nabbed by the PNP-HPG.

Similarly, bus drivers have been warned to stay inside the bus lanes. —Rie Takumi/JST, GMA News