FOLLOWING the brouhaha which “inadvertently dragged” the name of a sitting senator, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is no longer allowing “clearly marked government vehicles” from using the EDSA Carousel – a lane that was conceived for the exclusive use of city buses.
“Hindi na po pwede ang clearly marked government vehicles sa bus carousel. Starting Monday (November 20), enforce na po natin na bawal na din po ang clearly marked government vehicles,” MMDA Chairman Romando Artes told reporters in a press briefing.
Under existing rules, the MMDA said the bus carousel lane is exclusive for public utility buses, ambulances, and marked government vehicles responding to emergencies.
However, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) issued a new memorandum regarding the use of the bus carousel, limiting the innermost lanes of EDSA to authorized passenger buses, emergency vehicles, and cars used to construct the lane.
Likewise given access for the use of the bus carousel are top-ranking government officials which include the President, Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
Vehicles of Cabinet officials, senators, and congressmen bearing the protocol plates 6, 7, and 8 are restricted, according to Artes.
The changes came after MMDA Task Force Special Operations Unit Head Col. Bong Nebrija mistakenly reported that Senator Bong Revilla illegally used the special bus lane along Edsa.
Nebrija apologized to the senator, who later accepted his apology but called for the MMDA official’s resignation.
Amid the busway fiasco, Artes suspended Nebrija, citing his mistakes as the primary reason and not due to political pressure.
Among the mistakes that Artes mentioned were announcing the names of Revilla and former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Christopher Co before the media or violating the Data Privacy Act, disseminating fake news involving the officials, and letting the vehicles pass through.
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