The Swedish government has signified interest to take part in the government’s EDSA Busway project so it can accommodate more commuters amid growing transportation demand as face-to-face school classes are set to resume soon.
Swedish Ambassador to the Philippines Annika Thunborg made the offer of help to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, the Department of Transportation said Monday.
Thunborg was quoted as saying that the operational efficiency of the EDSA Busway Project may be enhanced to benefit more people as it continues offering free rides until the end of the year.
The EDSA Busway Project is a dedicated median bus lane service of the DoTr, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Metro Politan Manila Development Authority, and the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Meanwhile, Bautista confirmed in a television interview that the agency is studying the feasibility of adding more bus routes.
“I had a meeting with the consortium that operates EDSA Carousel, and we asked them to have additional buses, especially during the start of face-to-face classes on 22 August,” he said.
Bautista added that the DoTr remains open to installing cable cars in the National Capital Region as proposed by Senator Robinhood Padilla last week.
Renowned architect and urban planning authority Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr. has argued that the construction of a cable car system in the country is a worthwhile investment. However, it will not permanently “alleviate the situation, it will not solve the traffic,” he said.
“We need to look at all modes of transportation. Even water transport like those for Laguna Lake, Pasig River and Manila Bay. We’ll interconnect them,” Palafox added.