Transport group urges DOTr: Rethink privatization of EDSA Carousel

Commuters queue for the Libreng Sakay program at the Main Avenue station of the EDSA carousel busway in Quezon City on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, in the last work week of the year. The Libreng Sakay program is set to expire on December 31.

The STAR / Miguel de Guzman

MANILA, Philippines — A transport group urged the Department of Transportation to rethink its plan to privatize the EDSA bus carousel next year, saying that privatization of public utilities does not guarantee efficiency, and in order to maximize private profits, often results in fare hikes.

This comes after Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista confirmed the department would be heading in that direction for 2023 with the end goal of having the busway in Metro Manila's busiest thoroughfare conform to international bus standards. 

"We encourage Bautista to think about it carefully," Mody Floranda, national president of Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide or Piston said in Filipino in a statement sent to reporters Thursday. "What is the guarantee of businessmen that they will serve the public interest if the public interest is affordable and effective service?"

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/12/29/2234036/transport-group-urges-dotr-rethink-privatization-edsa-carousel