MMDA says only five top Government officials can use EDSA bus lane

In light of the still significant number of instances of unauthorized use of the EDSA bus lane, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has outlined a total of only five very important persons (VIPs) who may get to use the said lane. This ruling is effective as of November 20, 2023. 

Only 5 government officials can use the EDSA bus lane

The officials allowed to use the bus lane are the president, Vice President, Senate President, the speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as the Chief Justice. This likewise covers the said officials’ convoys. Just to be clear, the list does not include the vehicles (even those equipped with protocol plates) of cabinet officials, senators, and congressmen. 

Besides the ones carrying the aforementioned VIPs, other vehicles that are allowed to use the bus lane are the buses authorized by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to ply the EDSA carousel route, as well as on-duty emergency vehicles like fire trucks, ambulances, and Philippine National Police (PNP) vehicles. Service vehicles that are directly involved in the maintenance, construction, and security within the EDSA busway are permitted to use the lane as well. 

This announcement from the government agency comes at an appropriate time since it somewhat addresses a recent bus lane incident that ended up in a preventive suspension for MMDA New Task Force Special Operations Unit's (NTFSOU) head, Col. Edison “Bong” Nebrija.

Hopefully, the stricter bus lane policy works

Specifically, Nebrija mistakenly reported Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. as an EDSA bus lane violator. It has since been determined by authorities that the Senator was not aboard the vehicle during the incident and Nebrija has since apologized to Revilla for implicating his name. 

If one remembers, the MMDA has already rolled out Regulation No. 23-002 a week ago. The new bus lane regulation imposes stiffer fines for EDSA bus lane violators, and repeat violators may even have their driver’s licenses revoked. In line with the new MMDA announcement regarding the EDSA bus lane, politicians and VIPs not included in the list of authorized users will be ticketed if found in violation of the new rule. 

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