Private cars allowed to use EDSA yellow lanes-MMDA

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) official said Monday private vehicles are allowed to use the yellow lanes as bus lanes are now transferred on the left side of EDSA.

MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia said in an interview with Dobol B sa News TV that the change is for buses to travel faster. 

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“Yung dalawang lanes sa kanan natin na dating bus lanes, ayaw daanan ng kababayan natin. ‘Yan po pupuwede niyong daanan ‘yan kasi nga nilipat na natin ‘yung bus lanes sa left side,” Garcia said.

(The two lanes to our right that used to be bus lanes, our countrymen don’t want to take those lanes. You can take those lanes since we moved the bus lanes to the left side.)

“Wala po bus diyan na daraan… Yung right side, napakaluwag niyan. Puwedeng daanan ng private ‘yan” he added.

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(No bus would take the right side, it’s very convenient. Private vehicles could take that lane.)

Heavy traffic and lack of transportation met employees returning to work on the first day of the general community quarantine in Metro Manila. 

Also read: Gradual reopening of dine-in restaurants eyed amid GCQ

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The Department of Transportation (DOTr) divided the gradual resumption of public transportation into two phases.

Phase 1 (covering June 1 to 21)

  • Trains and bus augmentation, taxis, TNVS, shuttle services, Point-to-Point buses, and bicycles will be allowed to operate, with LIMITED PASSENGER CAPACITY.
  • Tricycles will also be allowed, subject to the prior approval of the concerned LGU.
  • NO provincial buses will be allowed to enter Metro Manila.

Phase 2 (covering June 22 to 30)

Public Utility Buses (PUBs), Modern PUVs, and UV Express will already be allowed to operate, also with limited passenger capacity, along with the initial set of transport modes that were allowed to operate during Phase 1.

The agency also imposed stringent sanitary measures in public transportation in areas under GCQ:

  • Wearing of face masks at all times
  • Implementation of no-contact measures such as cashless payments.
  • Use of thermal scanners
  • Availability of alcohol and sanitizers in Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs)
  • Disinfection of high-touch surfaces of vehicles
  • Establishment of disinfection facilities in various public transport terminals
  • Contact Tracing