Edsa busway privatization set in 2025 – DoTR

(Niño Jesus Orbeta/Philippine Daily Inquirer file photo)

MANILA, Philippines —  Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista announced that the privatization process of the Edsa busway system will begin this year.

Speaking at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing on Thursday, Bautista said they are now preparing the terms of reference for the privatization of the busway located in the busiest thoroughfare in Metro Manila.

“Mayroon po tayong consultant na gumagawa ng terms of reference, and hopefully po, by siguro end of first quarter or start of second quarter, ay matatapos na itong terms of reference; ipapa-bid din po natin ito,” he said.

(We have a consultant working on the terms of reference, and hopefully, by the end of the first quarter or the start of the second quarter, the terms of reference will be completed.)

Bautista said the winning bidder would provide the buses and oversee the operation of the busway.

It will also be required to create or provide an electronic schedule of the buses for the convenience of passengers.

“Ang kailangan parang nasa ibang bansa tayo, malalaman natin kung anong oras dadating iyong susunod na sasakyan; even iyong mga pasahero natin, they can use an app [application] para alam nila kung kailan sila dapat dumating doon sa mga stations ‘no,” Bautista explained.

(We need something similar to other countries where we can find out when the next bus will arrive. Even passengers can use an app to know when they should arrive at the stations.)

“So, ito pong 2025, mag-start na rin iyong process natin for the privatization of the Edsa busway,” he added.

(So, in 2025, we will also start the process for privatizing the Edsa busway.)

Meanwhile, Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan said in a public briefing on Wednesday that the government will begin the full rehabilitation of Edsa itself this year, in compliance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive.

Metro Manila was infamously given the “World’s Worst Traffic in a Metro Area” top spot among 387 metro areas globally, according to the 2023 TomTom Traffic Index, a Netherlands-based multinational developer of location technology and consumer electronics.

According to the study, Filipino motorists spent an average of 25 minutes and 30 seconds per 10 kilometers in Metro Manila in 2023.

This was a 50-second increase from its record in 2022.

The study also revealed that drivers and commuters spent a total of 240 hours—or the equivalent of 10 days—on the road in 2023 due to traffic congestion.