San Jose del Monte, Bulacan – Former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III are not in favor of expanding the exemption for officials allowed to use the EDSA busway.

The two veteran lawmakers expressed their views during a pre-rally campaign in Bulacan on Friday.

Lacson proposed implementing a counterflow scheme on the EDSA busway, where buses would travel in opposite directions, preventing private vehicles from entering the busway.

“It's not an original idea to make the buses ply EDSA on counterflow, the Northbound ones should be Southbound, let the problem solve itself. Everyone will avoid head-on collisions. And then there will be no exemptions,” he said.

He noted that this scheme has been implemented in Taipei, Taiwan.

Lacson, a former PNP Chief, said he is against exemptions to avoid any leeway that could be misinterpreted by the public as being for personal gain.

Meanwhile, Sotto suggested that the driving public leave early from their homes to avoid traffic and other circumstances that may lead them to be enticed to use the EDSA busway.

“I agree with Senator Lacson. But right now I disagree with the addition of the exemption. Why should we use the regular lanes? You should leave early, right? Why will they have an exemption? I drive myself everyday so I know how it is so you leave early,” he said.

“Are you President of the Philippines so you can be exempted from the busway? That shouldn’t be the case,” he added.

Earlier this week, a convoy reportedly carrying Philippine National Police Chief Rommel Marbil and other officials was flagged down by the Department of Transportation-Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (DOTr-SAICT) on the EDSA busway.

According to the PNP, occupants of the vehicle were having an emergency, which prompted the convoy to use the EDSA busway. It added that it is also in talks with the Metro Manila Development Authority and the DOTr for the possible exemption of other vehicles using the busway.

However, Marbil did not confirm or deny whether he was in the vehicle that was flagged down.

Interior Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla said he was not aware that a convoy reportedly carrying officials passed through the EDSA busway.

He also added that he did not order anyone to violate the EDSA busway for any reason.

According to the DOTr, the following vehicles are allowed to use the special bus lane: LTFRB-authorized buses with permits to use the EDSA busway route; on-duty ambulances, fire trucks, and Philippine National Police vehicles; and service vehicles performing duties for the EDSA Busway Project, including but not limited to construction, security, janitorial, and maintenance services within the EDSA Busway.