The government on Tuesday broke ground for the Edsa Busway Concourse Project, a public-private partnership venture that would benefit both the commuters and pedestrians.
Following the successful signing of agreement in November, the event marked the commencement of the civil works for three concourses to be built at the SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall and SM North EDSA in spaces donated by the SM Group.
The Edsa Busway system—a joint project of the Department of Transportation with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and the Department of Public Works and Highways—started its interim operations in June last year and is designed to allow faster travel time for commuters, provide a comfortable commute for the Filipinos amid the pandemic and improve mobility along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.
The busway bridges will have a concierge, ticketing booths, turnstiles for the automatic fare collection system as well as ramps and elevators to provide accessibility.
In a virtual groundbreaking ceremony of the project, Pasay City Mayor Imelda Rubiano stressed the importance of strong cooperation between private and public sectors to attain their goal of providing the highest level of service to the people.
“This busway concourse is part of our plan, our dream, to make Metro Manila a more livable city, especially for the commuting public and for pedestrians,” she said.
Under the agreement, the private partners will shoulder the construction of the busway bridges with concourses at the SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM Megamall, President D. Macapagal Avenue in Aseana City, and at Edsa near the corner of PDMA.