The chairman of the House Committee on Transportation is in favor of the proposed privatization of the EDSA bus carousel or bus way system by the third quarter of next year.
Antipolo 2nd district Rep. Romeo Acop expressed his support to the endeavor on Thursday, Dec. 29, in an interview over Radyo Pilipinas.
According to the House panel chairman, all that needs to be done before such privatization can take place is an in-depth feasibility study on the matter.
He said the Philippines can turn to countries like China, Hong Kong, and London for a blueprint in terms of implementing a bus way system.
“Kailangan sigurong magkaroon ng in-depth na feasibility study at magkaroon ng...terms of reference. Siguro kailangan natin pag-aralan yung ibang mga bansa na mayroong bus way system gaya ng China, Hong Kong, London para makakuha po tayo ng mga insights (I think there should be an in-depth feasibility study to achieve a...terms of reference. I think we need to study other countries that have bus way system like China, Hong Kong, and London in order to get insights)," Acop said.
The ranking solon said other factors such as fare hikes and the movement of crude oil price in the world market also need to be studied by transportation authorities.
“I think it should be one of the guarantees that should be looked into by the Department of Transportation (DOTr). First is yun ngang fare increases at saka yung prices of crude oil na gagamitin. Yun po dapat ang tingnan ng ating (First are the fare increases and the prices of crude oil that will be used. That’s what our DOTr should check out)," he said.
Acop further said that the government, on its own, simply can't create a world class bus way system given its limited budget for related infrastructure.
“Pangalawang rason kung bakit ako rin po ay sang-ayon . Kasi kung titingnan natin yung budget na binigay ng ating gobyerno para sa bus way project, P200 million more or less lang yung for the bus way structure (Here's the second reason why I'm in favor of privatization. Because if we look at the government’s budget for the bus way project, it's only P200 million more or less for the bus way structure). This is not enough to come up with a bus way system that is global in standard," he noted.