Former Senator Panfilo 鈥淧ing鈥� Lacson
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� To curb the misuse of the Edsa Busway, former Senator Panfilo 鈥淧ing鈥� Lacson on Friday suggested having buses travel in the opposite direction of their usual route.
This recommendation came after recent reports of violators, including a convoy of the Philippine National Police (PNP), in the exclusive bus lane.
鈥淓DSA BUSWAY: To prevent unauthorized vehicles from using the busway, MMDA [Metropolitan Manila Development Authority] may consider studying the infrastructure reconfiguration to reverse the direction of buses passing through the bus lanes and make the problem solve itself,鈥� Lacson said in a post on X.
鈥淣obody wants a head-on collision,鈥� he emphasized.
READ: PNP: Convoy caught using Edsa busway carrying 鈥榮enior officers鈥�
Meanwhile, in a press release, the former senator stressed there should not be any 鈥渆xemptions鈥� from the busway rule.
鈥淓xempt yourself at your own risk,鈥� Lacson said.
The former legislator and former chief of the PNP is also one of the administration鈥檚 senatorial bets for the upcoming 2025 national and local elections.
On Tuesday evening, a PNP convoy was caught by traffic enforcers traversing the Edsa busway, supposedly due to an 鈥渆mergency meeting.鈥�
Edsa Busway (INQUIRER file photo)
READ: Palace on Edsa busway use: Don鈥檛 abuse term 鈥檈mergency鈥� to break rules
Palace, in a press briefing on Thursday, reminded the PNP that the term 鈥渆mergency鈥� should not be used as an excuse to break the Edsa busway rules.
鈥淚f I鈥檓 not mistaken, there is a provision that allows them to use the busway in case of an emergency and if they are on duty,鈥� Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.
鈥淏ut this must be properly verified,鈥� she noted.
鈥淏efore they use the busway, they must ensure that they are not misusing the privilege granted to them by simply invoking the word 鈥檈mergency,鈥欌�� she added.