DOTr seeks P1.3-B upgrade for EDSA busway

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will ask Congress to increase the 2026 budget for the EDSA busway by 16 times to prepare the infrastructure for its transfer to the private sector.

- By ELIJAH FELICE ROSALES

Ahead of the DOTr's budget hearing on Friday, The STAR learned that the agency would push for higher funding for its priority projects next year.

The DOTr's road sector will ask Congress to raise the allocation for the EDSA busway to P1.32 billion.

Only P88.71 million has been allocated for the busway under the 2026 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

Originally, the DOTr sought P14.13 billion to complete the overhaul of the EDSA Carousel.

Under former transport secretary Vince Dizon, the DOTr made an aggressive move to rehabilitate the busway.

As opposed to its current design of being linked to stations of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), Dizon wanted the busway to have its own concourses.