Newly appointed Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon made it clear that the EDSA Busway will not be removed; instead, the agency will work on improving and upgrading it to ensure smoother travel for commuters.
"Hindi po pu-pwedeng tanggalin [ang EDSA Busway]. Kasi nga po kulang na kulang na nga po ang ating mass transit, magtatanggal ka pa ng isa na kitang-kita naman natin na pinakikinabangan at epektibo," Dizon said in an exclusive interview with DZRH's Dos Por Dos on Wednesday.
He mentioned that one of the priorities of the new DOTr administration is the construction of bridgeways at several EDSA Busway stations.
“Tatlo po ang istasyon na ‘yan: Ortigas, Santola, atsaka Kamuning,” he added.
Meanwhile, the DOTr aims to make the MRT-7 operational before the end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s term.
He then pointed out that the issue of right of way remains a problem, with certain areas under the train's route still lacking the necessary land parcels.
Dizon also pointed out that the North Triangle Common Station in North EDSA, Quezon City, which started construction in 2011 but remains non-operational, has reportedly faced challenges with its contractor.
Additionally, he mentioned that he would determine the cause of the delay, and if it is not addressed, they might be compelled to hire a different contractor.
The common station was intended to resolve the interconnectivity problem of Metro Manila's transit system by connecting MRT-1, MRT-3, the not-yet-completed MRT-7, and the still-under-construction Metro Manila Subway.
Dizon stressed that the issue of right of way continues to be the key factor behind the delays in many of the DOTr’s major projects, such as the North-South Commuter Railway, which was intended to connect New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac to Calamba, Laguna.
Moreover, Dizon has established a flagship project management office, which will first prioritize six critical DOTr projects for the transport sector.
