Provincial buses back on EDSA

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) started last night a two-week dry run allowing provincial buses to pass through EDSA from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

In a statement, the MMDA said the move is based on the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases’ Resolution 101, which details uniform travel protocols amid the pandemic.

“The Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board gave the green light to allow provincial buses to ply EDSA starting 10 p.m. tonight up to 5 a.m.,” MMDA Chairman Romando Artes announced yesterday.

Under the resolution, buses from Metro Manila bound for the provinces should use the integrated terminal exchanges as hubs for transportation.

Commuters currently take provincial buses that stop at designated terminals. They then transfer to carousel buses, which are allowed on EDSA.

The dry run was announced after the traffic summit led by the MMDA concluded yesterday.

Artes said among the proposals discussed during the summit are the expansion of the number coding scheme and the reimplementation of the truck ban.

“We will conduct a series of consultations to further improve traffic management in Metro Manila. Rest assured that we will thoroughly study the proposed solutions and we will address the concerns of the commuters and transport sector,” he added.