DOTr Asec defends EDSA Busway design

An executive from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) backed up the design of the EDSA Busway following the road mishaps involving buses plying it.

In a recent Facebook post, transportation department assistant secretary Goddes Hope Libiran said that the EDSA Busway project followed international standards for busway routes, claiming that it is safe even for those driving at 60-kilometers-per-hour speeds along EDSA.  

 “Napakagandang proyekto ang EDSA Busway. Huwag sana nating hayaan na ma-discredit dahil lamang sa ilang kaskaserong driver. 3.2 to 3.5 meters ang international standard na sukat ng busway (safe ito para sa bilis na 60 kph max). Yan ang sinusunod ng MMDA,” she noted.

She also said in the post, even if the route is widened, if the drivers are running through it recklessly, similar incidents could still happen.   

“‘Pero kahit gawin mong 5 to 10 meters ‘yan, kung nuknukan naman ng pagka-pasaway at barubal ang bus driver, babangga pa rin sa barrier ‘yan.

She also cited that the accidents comprise a very small sample compared to the total population of the buses using the EDSA Busway route that are doing five to six trips daily.

“Tingnan ninyo ha. May mahigit 300 buses tayong bumibiyahe sa EDSA Busway araw-araw. Ipagpalagay na natin sa 100 buses. Umiikot ‘yan on an average of 5-6 trips sa EDSA Busway per day. That’s more or less 36,000 trips in two months. Sa dalawang buwan, less than 10 recorded incidents ang naireport sa atin involving buses and barriers. Bakit naman ‘yung 99.9%, hindi naaaksidente? Bakit naman ‘yung iba, napakaingat? Bakit naman karamihan may disiplina? Huwag ninyong isisi sa barrier. Hindi gumagalaw mga ‘yan unless banggain. Hindi sila ang problema. Ang problema, nasa mga driver na walang disiplina.

Three videos of bus drivers hit the barricades were posted over social media involving in accidents, hitting the concrete slabs.

The licenses of the drivers who figured in the said accidents were suspended pending the official ruling.

Photo/s from Asec. Goddes Hope Libiran and Department of Transportation Facebook pages

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