The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center are taking the initial steps towards the development of the NCR EDSA Busway Project.
The two agencies on March 8 launched a market sounding activity to engage potential private sector partners in the crucial infrastructure project.
It provided an overview of the proposed PPP project, gathered initial feedback and valuable insights from private sector participants and identified potential issues or concerns affecting project viability.
The potential scope of responsibility of the private sector partner could encompass financing, design, construction, operations and maintenance of upgraded bus stations and facilities, procurement of bus fleet, operations and maintenance of busway systems.
About 50 private sector participants and representatives from five government agencies attended the market sounding activity
The PPP Center and DOTr signed a technical assistance agreement on April 5, 2023 for the provision of project preparation and transaction advisory services, funded through the Project Development and Monitoring Facility managed by the PPP Center.
The feasibility study of the project is targeted to be finished by midyear.
The EDSA Busway is expected to enhance the existing EDSA Carousel to address the high demand for transportation services along the median of EDSA and feeder roads by increasing capacity and service reliability.
It may also involve the introduction of electric buses, reducing the carbon emissions along heavily trafficked corridors of Metro Manila.