The government will allow provincial buses to travel along EDSA from December 20 to January 2 in order to expedite turnaround times and accommodate more passengers during the holiday season.
From December 20 to 25, provincial buses will be permitted to use EDSA from 10 PM to 5 AM.
From December 26 to January 2, 2025, these buses will be allowed to operate on the major thoroughfare 24 hours a day. More than 2,100 buses are expected to benefit from this holiday traffic scheme.
All provincial buses coming from the north will terminate their trips at Cubao, Quezon City, while those arriving from the south will end their trips at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange or in Pasay City.
Chairman Don Artes of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported that the volume of vehicles traversing EDSA has already reached 464,000 and is expected to increase to between 470,000 and 480,000 during the second and third weeks of December.
Travel speeds have averaged 18 kilometers per hour, significantly lower than the normal speed of 21 kph.
The MMDA chief indicated that travel speeds are expected to drop further to around 15 kph as Christmas approaches.
“Although we anticipate an increase in vehicular volume this holiday season, we want our bus operators to serve more passengers for their convenience and ensure faster travel to their destinations,” Artes stated.
He also assured that bus carousel trips will not be affected by this adjustment for the holiday season.
Additionally, he reminded the public to plan their trips carefully, particularly regarding visits to malls where adjusted operating hours are in effect.
The duty hours for MMDA traffic personnel will be extended until midnight, a change from the regular deployment hours that end at 10 PM.
A “no absent, no leave” policy will also be enforced for the duration of the Christmas season.