DoTr optimistic on EDSA busway funding restoration

The Department of Transportation (DoTr) expressed confidence Tuesday that Congress will restore funding for the EDSA Busway Carousel in the 2027 national budget despite receiving no allocation under the executive branch’s initial budget proposal.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro read a statement from DoTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez during a news briefing, stressing that the agency is appealing to lawmakers to secure funding during ongoing budget deliberations.

“The EDSA Carousel is important, which is why the DoTr continues to request Senate and House lawmakers to provide funding for the EDSA Busway in budget hearings,” Lopez said, adding that the agency is seeking a P1.76-billion allocation.

The Department of Budget and Management provided zero funding for the busway, the Service Contracting Program, and the Fuel Subsidy Program in the 2027 National Expenditure Program due to fiscal constraints.

Lopez cited, however, that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. previously highlighted the system’s importance in his State of the Nation Address, making administrative support likely if Congress restores the funds.

The funding appeal received support from the Management Association of the Philippines, which called the project’s exclusion inexplicable given its role in capital transit.

According to business group data, the EDSA Busway serves approximately 200,000 daily passengers, with peak ridership reaching 321,186 on 21 April 2025.

The group urged the government to prioritize public mass transit over private vehicle use along Metro Manila’s primary highway corridor.