MMDA to allow provincial buses on EDSA for holidays


LTFRB opens provincial bus routes from Pampanga, Davao to Mega Manila

Provincial buses will be allowed to traverse EDSA from December 20, 2024, to January 2, 2025 to accommodate the anticipated surge in passengers during the holiday season, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has announced.

The initiative seeks to provide faster turnaround times for buses and improve travel convenience for commuters, according to the MMDA.

From December 20 to 25, provincial buses will be permitted to ply EDSA between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., the agency said.

Meanwhile, starting December 26 until January 2, 2025, these buses will be allowed to operate on the thoroughfare 24/7. 

The agency noted that the holiday scheme will benefit over 2,100 provincial buses.

Northbound buses will terminate in Cubao, Quezon City while southbound buses will end their trips at either the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) or Pasay City. 

MMDA Chairperson Don Artes said that the volume of vehicles on EDSA has already reached 464,000 daily and is projected to rise to 470,000-480,000 by mid-December.

Current travel speeds average 18 kilometers per hour (kph), down from the usual 21 kph, and could drop further to 15 kph as Christmas approaches, the MMDA stated.

“Albeit there is an expected increase in vehicular volume this Christmas season, we want our bus operators to serve more passengers for their convenience and faster travel to their respective destinations,” Artes said in a statement.

As such, he assured the public that the bus carousel operations would remain unaffected by the adjustments.

To manage holiday traffic, Artes said MMDA traffic personnel will extend their duty hours until midnight, with a strict “no absent, no leave” policy in place for the season.

He also urged the public to plan their trips carefully, particularly when visiting malls, where operating hours have been adjusted to accommodate holiday shoppers.