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‘Amihan’ gradually weakens, affecting only a portion of N. Luzon — PAGASA

MMDA to start apprehending gov't-marked vehicles using EDSA Bus Lane on Nov. 20

BY Aaron Recuenco
Nov 19, 2023 05:42 AM

Starting Monday, Nov. 20, enforcers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will apprehend government-marked vehicles that will enter the EDSA Bus Lane.

MMDA chairman Don Artes said government-marked vehicles are not included in the list of the vehicles that are allowed to use the EDSA Busway based on the letter forwarded to the agency by the office of Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista.

“We will be strictly enforcing this. If the vehicles are not in the list of the DOTR, then they would be apprehended and would be given citation tickets,” said Artes.

On Nov. 13, the MMDA started implementing higher penalties for the unauthorized use of EDSA Bus Lane— the penalties include P5,000 for the first offense and P20,000 for the drivers who would dare to ignore apprehending MMDA enforcers.

Amid the persistence of some drivers of government vehicles and those with protocol plates, Artes wrote to Bautista to seek clarification as to which vehicles are authorized to use the EDSA Busway. 

In response, Bautista said only these vehicles are authorized:

1.    LTFRB-authorized Buses for the EDSA Busway Route, including bases with Special Permits and/or franchises to operate on the EDSA Busway Route; 

2.    On-duty Ambulances, Fire tracks, and Philippine National Police vehicles, and

3.    Service vehicles performing their duties for the EDSA Busway Project, including but not limited to construction, security, janitorial, and maintenance services within the EDSA Busway.

“Even vehicles with protocol plates are not authorized to use the EDSA Busway. The rule is that if the vehicles are not in the list, then the drivers should not use the Bus Lane,” said Artes.

In the same letter, however, Bautista said the EDSA Busway is also available for the President, Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in order to provide assistance in the performance of their duties.

More than 11,000 motorists were apprehended from January to Nov. 10 this year for illegally using the EDSA Bus Lane which prompted the MMDA to approve a resolution that increases the penalty for its unauthorized use.

Hundreds were apprehended on the first day of the implementation of higher penalties on Nov. 13., and so far more than a thousand motorists were already apprehended.