Provincial buses allowed on EDSA from Dec. 20 to Jan. 2

COUNCIL MEETING. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Romando Artes during a meeting with the Metro Manila Council composed of mayors in the National Capital Region at the MMDA headquarters in Pasig City on Friday (Dec. 6, 2024). Provincial buses will be allowed to traverse EDSA from Dec. 20 to Jan. 2 to address the growing number of passengers during the holiday season. (Photo: MMDA/Facebook)

By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Provincial buses will be allowed to traverse Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) from Dec. 20 until Jan. 2 for faster turnaround time and to accommodate more passengers as increased volume is expected this holiday season.

In a statement Friday, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Romando Artes said provincial buses would be allowed on EDSA from 10 p.m. to 5 p.m. from Dec. 20 to 25.

From Dec. 26 to Jan. 2 next year, buses will be allowed on EDSA 24/7.

“More than 2,100 buses will benefit from the said holiday traffic scheme,” Artes said.

Provincial buses from north of Metro Manila will terminate their trips in Cubao, Quezon City while those coming from the south will end their trips at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange in Pasay City.

“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,” he said.

He assured that the traffic adjustment would not affect buses traversing the EDSA Carousel route.

To date, the MMDA estimates around 464,000 vehicles passing through EDSA daily and is expecting a further increase from 470,000 to 480,000 in the second to third week of December.

During this period, it is estimated that travel speed on EDSA would average 18 km. per hour (kph), lower than the normal 21 kph.

Average vehicular speed may decrease further to 15 kph as Christmas nears.

Artes urged the public to plan their trips and to take into consideration the adjusted operating hours of malls for the holiday season.

MMDA traffic personnel will be on duty until midnight, later than the usual 10 p.m.