DOTr: Busway to stay open amid EDSA rehabilitation

The EDSA Busway–the lanes on Metro Manila's main thoroughfare reserved for buses, top government officials, and emergency vehicles–will continue to operate even with the highway's planned rehabilitation in time for the ASEAN Summit in 2026.

According to Joseph Morong's exclusive report on "24 Oras," Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said there will be portions where busway users will have to leave the dedicated lane but can return in parts with no roadworks or where these are already finished.

“Hindi po magsasara ang EDSA Busway kahit nire-rehab ang EDSA,” Dizon said.

(The EDSA Busway will not be closed even during the rehabilitation of EDSA.)

"Kunyari may ginagawang portion ng EDSA, meron lang pong portion na siguro lalabas pero babalik din sa mga portion na hindi pa ginagawa o tapos na," he added.

(If a portion of EDSA is undergoing roadwork, a busway user would have to leave but also return at parts where there is still no roadwork or where the roadwork is already finished.)

When asked about the proposal to allow the Philippine National Police to use the busway during emergencies, the DOTr chief said it was something that needed to be discussed.

Dizon said he did not see any reason to add anyone to the list of individuals allowed to use the busway. “Wala dapat madagdag dun.” (Nothing should be added up to that.)

Aside from the convoys of the President, Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker, and Chief Justice, also allowed to use the busway are on-duty ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the National Capital Region (NCR) said on Saturday that the rehabilitation of EDSA would start with the closure of the EDSA busway. –Vince Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News