The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is requesting a higher allocation for EDSA Busway in its 2027 budget as it looks to expand the bus rapid transit (BRT) system to other routes in Metro Manila.

Transportation Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor said the DOTr is hoping for a much-needed increase in its budget to maximize the potential of the BRT system in accommodating commuters in National Capital Region (NCR).

“We requested a good amount,” he told reporters, noting that it would be higher than this year’s current budget.

Under the record ₱6.793-trillion 2026 national budget, EDSA Busway—classified as NCR Busway—received ₱88.71 million for the year, nearly double the ₱45.79 million allocated under 2025’s expenditure plan.

Even then, this year’s budget is only around nine percent of the DOTr’s initial request of ₱936.09 million.

“We hope that our legislators will provide us the necessary financial support through our budget,” Pastor said.

Pastor said designating EDSA Busway as NCR Busway provides the DOTr with the leeway to develop other BRT systems in the capital region.

However, this remains on the backburner this year given the limited funding capacity. Still, the DOTr is actively exploring other prospective transit systems to replicate the gains of EDSA Busway.

For one, the DOTr revived last year its plans to build a BRT system between España Boulevard in Manila and Quezon Avenue in Quezon City. Earlier, Pastor said they are also considering Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City as a candidate site for the project.

“We know that our budget is limited in the department and we have to maximize it where the impact is greater,” Pastor said.

The DOTr is primarily focused on improving the stations of EDSA Busway this year, in line with preparations to upgrade the system before its eventual transfer to the private sector.

At present, Pastor said the DOTr is evaluating all options for the busway’s public-private partnership (PPP) project, including whether to pursue a solicited process or wait for an unsolicited proposal.

He said the agency is also assessing whether there is value in dividing the project concession between bus operations and station management.

“In the meantime, since there is no decision yet, our priority is to improve the busway,” Pastor said. “So that we can facilitate the travel of our passengers while we are looking at how to move forward with the privatization.”

In addition, the DOTr will also focus on improving Cebu BRT this year following the recent launch of its partial operations.

Pastor said the agency will particularly focus on traffic signalization to facilitate smoother service and ease congestion along the busway.