The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has reiterated its opposition to proposals allowing carpooling on the EDSA Busway, stressing that the dedicated lane was designed to move people—not private vehicles.

In a statement, Transportation Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez said the EDSA Busway was created to provide fast, reliable, and uninterrupted service to buses carrying up to 300,000 passengers daily. Allowing private vehicles, even under a carpooling scheme, would slow down bus operations and undermine the busway’s purpose.

Lopez acknowledged the efforts of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Nicolas Torre III to address traffic congestion but emphasized that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directives are clear: transport policies must be commuter-focused and pro–mass transit, not car-centric.

“The EDSA Busway has proven to be an effective program for the greater number of commuters,” Lopez said, adding that this alone is reason enough to keep the busway exclusive to buses and public transport users.

Despite its firm stance, the DOTr said it remains open to dialogue with the MMDA, other government agencies, and civil society groups to develop innovative, well-studied, and holistic solutions to Metro Manila’s traffic problems.

The department reaffirmed its commitment to prioritizing commuters and strengthening mass transportation systems as part of the government’s broader mobility agenda.