The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Monday, Oct. 2, deployed additional personnel along areas of the EDSA Bus Carousel following rampant violations of misbehaving motorists.

The directive came after the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) sought for the land transportation agency’s aid as repeated warnings to motorists that no private vehicles should traverse the busway and lanes reserved for ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars passed unnoticed.

“Nagiging bisyo na ng ilang mga abusadong motorista ang paggamit ng EDSA Bus Carousel. We recognize the limited manpower of the MMDA to strictly enforce and while the LTO has the same problem, we will tap some of our enforcers to reinforce our brothers in the MMDA in keeping an eye on the EDSA Bus Carousel,” LTO chief Vigor Mendoza II said.

“Tinitiyak din natin ang agarang aksyon ng inyong LTO upang maparusahan ang mga mahuhuling motorista na gagamit ng EDSA Bus Carousel,” he added.

‘Violation of erring motorists’

In a report by RH Christian Maño, LTO-National Capital Region determined the taxi driver that entered the ESDA Bus Carousel lane and blocked buses from passing a 19-inch flood in Camp Aguinaldo Gate 3 on September 23.

According to Mendoza, they were also conducting a probe regarding the incident where a motorist almost hit an MMDA traffic enforcer trying to flee as he was caught passing into the busway.

Meanwhile, MMDA chairperson Ronaldo Artes told DZRH that they were eyeing a fine increase and possible suspension of driving licenses for unauthorized vehicles passing the EDSA busway.