Malacañang on Tuesday reiterated that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. supports measures that would ease the burden of Filipino commuters.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the statement when asked about the zero allocation for the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) Busway in the Department of Budget and Management’s proposed 2027 national budget.
“Ang Pangulo, kung ano ang mas makakagaan sa pasanin ng ating mga kababayan, hindi niya tututulan,” Castro told reporters at a Palace press briefing when asked to comment on the matter.
Castro relayed the response of Transportation Acting Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez, saying that the latter stressed the importance of the EDSA Busway to commuters.
“Importante ang EDSA Carousel kaya ang DOTr ay patuloy na nakikiusap sa Senado at Kongreso na mabigyan ng pondo ang EDSA Busway sa mga budget hearings,” Castro said, quoting Lopez.
Castro said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) remains confident that Congress will provide funding for the busway, citing the millions of passengers who rely on the service.
“Kumpiyansa naman ang DOTr na mabibigyan sila ng pondo para mapakinabangan ulit ng 67 million commuters na tumatangkilik sa EDSA Busway. Sa katunayan, sa SONA ng Pangulo, nabanggit ng Pangulo ang kahalagahan ng EDSA Busway,” she added.
The DOTr is seeking P1.7 billion for the EDSA Busway as Congress deliberates on the proposed 2027 national budget.
The EDSA Busway, also known as the EDSA Carousel, uses dedicated lanes along EDSA and has become a key public transportation service for commuters traveling across Metro Manila.