The Department of Transportation (DOTr) clarified that it is not proposing for the establishment of toll road along the stretch of EDSA.
In a statement on Friday, the DOTr said the suggestion to construct toll ways along the highway came from various stakeholders and “has not been formally discussed yet by the present DOTr administration.”
“According to DOTr Road Sector Consultant Asec. Bert Suansing, this suggestion was initially raised more than a decade ago, during the time of former MMDA Chairman Benjamin Abalos,” it said.
“The DOTr welcomes suggestions that will improve mobility and order of public transportation. However, a suggestion does not translate automatically into a proposal nor a project for implementation. Like any project, it has to go through the proper process,” it added.
DOTr Assistant Secretary Alberto Suansing told The Chiefs on Wednesday that the proposal to establish toll ways along EDSA is seen to reduce the volume of vehicles along Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare and generate additional revenue for the government.
“As far as EDSA is concerned, once we have fixed public transport there, we will also be introducing tolling, just like in Singapore,” Suansing said.
“Let’s say for example, 13 hours of the day, from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. and then again in 4 p.m. to about 9 p.m. pag dumaan ka dyan sa stretch ng EDSA, say from Quezon Ave. hanggang sa Roxas Boulevard, you have to pay toll. That’s both a volume-reduction and revenue-generating measure,” he added.
Suansing said that the proposal is being eyed for implementation next year.