As EDSA rehab looms, Skyway eyed as alternative route
The government is considering allowing motorists to use portions of the Skyway for free once major repair begins on EDSA this coming June.
In Joseph Morong's Tuesday report on '24 Oras,' the EDSA rehabilitation will begin on June 13.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said Metro Manila's major thoroughfare will undergo large-scale repair since reblocking and asphalting the road is no longer enough.
Officials said the stretch between Roxas Boulevard in Manila and Guadalupe, Makati will be the first to be affected.
According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), EDSA will be repaired per lane.
'Yung mga kababayan natin na imbes na sa EDSA meron silang ibang dadaanan, alternative na dadaanan at ang pinakamadaling alternative na dadaanan ay ang Skyway,' Dizon said.
(Instead of traversing EDSA, they will have an alternative route. The best option would be the Skyway.)
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said repair work on EDSA would take about two years, but the EDSA bus carousel would remain operational during the whole time.
EDSA buses will use the adjacent lane while the remaining lanes will be for private vehicles.
'Wala tayong magagawa. Kailangan unahin natin ang commuter,' Dizon said.
(There's nothing we can do. We have to prioritize commuters.)
To ease the travel of commuters, some facilities of the EDSA bus carousel were fixed, including 18 elevators at six of its stations. Wheelchair lifts were also installed for persons with disabilities.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court partially lifted the temporary restraining order against the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP), allowing only the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to implement it in areas under its jurisdiction.
'Yung mga violators, hindi na namin kailangang parahin, mag-talo, isyuhan physically ng ticket na habang ginagawa yun ay nakakaabala pa sa traffic. So, kung may NCAP, tuloy-tuloy na yung takbo at huhulihin na lang namin through CCTV camera,' MMDA chairman Romando Artes said.
(We don't have to stop motorists to issue a physician ticket, get into arguments, as this causes traffic. With the NCAP, violators will be caught via CCTV cameras.)
Dizon also said the government is hastening the completion of the Common Station of the LRT-1, MRT-3, and MRT-7, which was supposed to have been finished in 2021. He added DOTr is looking for another contractor for its completion.
'Ang target natin by early 2027, tapos na lahat. Tapos na ang Common Station, MRT-7 and nakakonekta na tayo sa LRT-1 papuntang MRT-3 and MRT-7,' Dizon said.
(Our target is to finish everything by early 2027. We aim to finish the Common Station, MRT-7, and that LRT-1 is connected to the MRT-3 and MRT-7.) —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
Gov't studying to impose 50% discount for senior citizens riding LRT-1, LRT-2, MRT-3
The government is studying if the increase of discounts given to students when riding the LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 could also be applied to senior citizens, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said Friday. ''Inaaral pa po iyan,'' Castro said during a press briefing. (That is being studied.) ''As much as possible, kung puwede nga pong ilibre lahat, iyon ang gusto ng Pangulo. Pero aaralin po iyan at hindi naman po natin agad-agad maibibigay or kakayaning maibigay. Inaaral po ngayon iyan sa kasalukuyan,'' she added. (As much as possible, the President wishes to make it free for everyone. But, we will study that and we cannot implement that immediately. That is being studied.) The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has announced the increased discount for all students from 20% to 50% for LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 starting Friday. Under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, Student Fare Discount Act, and Magna Carta for Persons with Disability, senior citizens, students, and persons with disabilities are entitled to a 20% discount in public transportation fares. The promo is valid for Single Journey Ticket only and not applicable for Beep Cards or Stored Value Tickets. Students must buy the ticket at the ticket counter to avail of the promo. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
'Not the first time': Marcos says he and his family often use MRT-3
President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Friday said that he and his family often ride the MRT-3 together and that his ride last June 1 was "not the first time." ''First of all, hindi 'to first time na sumakay ako ng MRT, madalas namin gamitin 'yung MRT dahil sa traffic. Mas mabilis eh. Kami... pamilya ko, mga kaibigan ko. Hindi practical matraffic, magdadalawang oras ka hanggang Cubao,'' Marcos said in the BBM Podcast. (First of all, it was not my first time to ride the MRT. We often use the MRT because of the traffic. It's faster. I, my family, and my friends ride the MRT. The traffic is not practical, it's often two hours to get to Cubao.) He also shared that he often talks to commuters, and they told him about the usual crowded situation inside the train, adding that he personally experienced the challenge of commuting using the MRT-3. ''Naramdaman ko 'yan, minsan sumakay kami ng MRT, talagang pag nakapasok ka na, basta't 'yung kamay mo nandito, hindi mo na magagalaw 'yun. Nakadikit ka na dito. Kinakausap ko mga pasahero, 'Sir, ganyan talaga 'yan araw-araw,''' the President added. (I experienced that, one time we used the MRT and once you enter and place your hands here, you can no longer move. I often talk to passengers, and they tell me the situation is like that every day.) Marcos earlier announced the Family/Pamilya Pass 1+3 program, which was made in honor of Family Day and to celebrate Filipino families. In this program, families or barkadas of four members only need to pay for one passenger to ride the MRT-3, LRT-2 and LRT-1 every Sunday starting on June 1, 2025. Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation has announced the increased discount for all students from 20% to 50% for LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 starting Friday. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- GMA Network
DOTr implements 50% discount for students in LRT-1, LRT-2, MRT-3
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced the increased discount for all students from 20% to 50% for LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3 starting Friday. "Ang 50% student discount ay applicable rin sa mga estudyanteng naka-enroll sa postgraduate studies at magagamit sa train lines araw-araw, kahit Sabado, Linggo o holiday," said DOTr in a Facebook post. (The 50% student discount is also applicable to students enrolled in postgraduate studies and can be used on train lines every day, even on Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays.) Under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, Student Fare Discount Act, and Magna Carta for Persons with Disability, senior citizens, students, and persons with disabilities are entitled to a 20% discount in public transportation fares. The DOTr, meanwhile, reminded the students about the following in order to get discounted rates: Students are required to present their valid ID within the current school year. This shall apply to all students, including those taking up postgraduate studies. Promo is valid for Single Journey Ticket only and not applicable for Beep Cards or Stored Value Tickets. Students must buy the ticket at the ticket counter to avail of the promo —VAL, GMA Integrated News
