DOTr eyes busway stations in Cubao, PITX in 2026

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) aims to construct busway stations in Cubao in Quezon City and the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange in 2026 as part of its ''commuter-centric'' initiatives.

According to Joseph Morong’s report on “24 Oras” on Thursday, the establishment of two new busway stations is on top of the rehabilitation of the existing busway stations—Monumento, Bagong Barrio, North Avenue, and Guadalupe. 

“Kaya nga pinili natin yun as two new stations kasi nga madaming sumasakay,” said Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon. 

(That's precisely why we chose those as the two new stations because there are many commuters.) 

The DOTr said that some 250,000 commuters benefit from the busway stations daily. 

“Tama na yung pagiging car-centric natin sa pag-iisip natin sa transport infrastructure, kailangan maging commuter-centric naman tayo,” said Dizon. 

(It's time to move beyond our car-centric thinking in transport infrastructure; we need to become commuter-centric.) 

“Yung access ng PWD, yung kababaihan, mga bata po, mga buntis, senior citizen, although yung iba pong istasyon mayroong elevator at escalator, yung iba po kasi maliit, tingnan po natin, ipinapaubaya ko po sa mga eksperto kung ano po ang magandang solusyon,” said Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman. 

(Regarding the access for PWDs, women, children, pregnant individuals, and senior citizens, although some stations have elevators and escalators, others are still small. Let's see, I'm leaving it to the experts to find the best solution.) 

The government will also replace the controversial high overpass in Kamuning, Quezon City.

The DOTr's budget was slashed by P100 billion this year, which, according to the government, has delayed the progress of major infrastructure projects like the Metro Manila Subway and the North-South Commuter Railway Project. A portion of the budget for these projects has been loaned from other countries, according to the report. 

The DBM explained that the P100 billion was reallocated by the Congress for other projects. 

“Naka-pool yung lahat ng binawas, and then ilalagay nila sa mga programs and departments na priority nila during that time,” said Pangandaman. 

(All the budget cuts were pooled, and then they'll allocate it to the programs and departments that are their priority during that time.) 

The budget for the EDSA busway rehabilitation was sourced from the continuing appropriations, or the funds that were not utilized last year. 

The DOTr has a proposed budget of P200 billion for next year.

Both the DOTr and the DBM are hoping there will be no significant reduction from the proposed amount, as the government is also working to improve active transport infrastructure such as the elevated bike lanes and parking areas for public utility vehicles in Quezon City. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/VBL, GMA Integrated News