Various transport groups led by the Provincial Bus Operators Association of the Philippines (PBOAP) have backed the stance of Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez opposing the use of the EDSA Bus Lane for carpooling services involving large private vehicles.

The declaration of support was conveyed through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), which also opposed proposals to make the EDSA Busway accessible to private vehicles.

PBOAP Executive Director and spokesperson Alex Yague said the original intent of the EDSA Busway Program would be undermined if more private vehicles were allowed to use the lane.

“I agree with Sec Lopez, the EDSA Carousel is designed for buses which are for mass transport,” Yague said.

The debate emerged after newly installed Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Nicolas Torre was quoted as saying the agency was considering allowing high-occupancy vehicles to use the busway.

“One of the things we are thinking of doing — but this is not yet approved — is putting down on the drawing table the idea of allowing high-occupancy vehicles with 10 or more people to use the busway,” Torre said in an interview.

The DOTr immediately issued a statement opposing the proposal. Lopez emphasized that the busway was designed to move more people by ensuring uninterrupted public bus operations.

“The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is opposed to the proposal to allow carpooling on the EDSA Busway. The busway was designed primarily to move more people-not more cars-by providing fast and uninterrupted service to buses carrying up to 300,000 passengers daily,” Lopez said.

“Any move to open this lane to private vehicles, even under the guise of carpooling, will inevitably slow down bus operations and defeat the very purpose for which the busway was created,” he added.

Other transport groups also rejected the proposal, including the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Associations of the Philippines (ALTODAP) and Pasang-Masda National.

ALTODAP President Melencio Vargas said the move would bring EDSA back to heavy traffic conditions, while Pasang-Masda National President Obet Martin reminded proponents that the EDSA Busway consists of only one lane.

“Maayos na ang operasyon ng EDSA Busway bakit guguluhin pa? Mauuwi lang ito sa dating sistema na buhol-buhol ang traffic sa EDSA dahil walang sistema,” Vargas said.

“Mas madaming sasakyan ang padaanin mo dyan, mas malaki ang posibilidad na mahaharangan yan at maapektuhan ang mas maraming pasahero ng mga bus,” Martin said.

Both jeepney transport leaders noted that operators and drivers currently benefit from the systematic operation of the EDSA Busway.