logo
MMDA eyes possible shutdown of EDSA busway

MMDA eyes possible shutdown of EDSA busway

Filipino Times05-02-2025
Operations of the Epifanio delos Santos Ave. (EDSA) busway may be shut down eventually should there be enough passenger capacity for the Metro Rail Line Transit (MRT-3), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, Feb. 5, MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes said there are plans to launch a new train wagon to increase the current MRT capacity by 30%.
Artes said the purpose of the MRT and EDSA busway is just 'repetitive.'
'Kung maa-accommodate naman sa taas, sa tren iyong mga pasahero, we don't see the need na magkaroon pa ng bus kasi exactly the same route nga siya. In fact, mas bentahe pa nga ang train dahil mas marami siyang stops kaysa sa bus carousel,' he said.
The MMDA chief said there are also suggestions to free up the current EDSA bus lane for use of high-occupancy vehicles.
'May plano po ang DOTr na talagang magkaroon ng seamless transfer from different train system like MRT, idugtong na talaga sa LRT 1, or iyong sa north, same, LRT-1,' Artes noted.
Artes, however, clarified that the proposal will not happen if train capacity will not be addressed.
'Hangga't hindi pa kaya i-accomodate ng MRT iyong pasahero po ng bus carousel, hindi maaalis iyong buses na iyan,' he said.
Just early this week, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the DOTr is fixing terms of reference for the privatization of the EDSA carousel operations for a possible turnover in 2026.
The special bus lane began in 2020 to address travel woes during the pandemic. It followed a paid fare system in 2023.
Bus operations stretch from Monumento in Caloocan to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump's foreign relief cuts are affecting many lives
Trump's foreign relief cuts are affecting many lives

Gulf Today

time14-07-2025

  • Gulf Today

Trump's foreign relief cuts are affecting many lives

The White House has hailed H.R. 1, aka the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as a 'once-in-a-generation piece of legislation' that puts 'America First.' Most of the public debate focused on its extension of lower taxes for the rich, the ballooning federal debt, and massive cuts in Medicaid spending. Yet equally important is what the act will do to America's standing abroad as a champion of the world's neediest people, and the 'soft power' influence that effort provides. The budget act was hardly President Donald Trump's first assault on America's humanitarian leadership. On his inauguration day, he issued two executive orders concerning US refugee programs. One, titled 'Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid,' states that the America's 'foreign aid industry and bureaucracy' was not aligned with American interests, and acted in ways antithetical to the country's values. It called for a 90-day pause in development assistance and review of related programs to ensure their 'efficiency and consistency' with US foreign policy. The other, 'Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program,' states that the US could not absorb refugees without endangering Americans or compromising their access to taxpayer-funded resources. The Trump administration has indefinitely suspended the US Refugee Admissions Program, which helps resettle refugees in conjunction with private sponsor groups; it is one of the most successful humanitarian programs and public-private partnerships in US history. The administration has also excluded more than 22,000 people already approved for admission, including Afghans who had worked with the US during the war in their homeland. By late March, the White House had helter-skelter canceled 5,341, or about 86%, of US foreign assistance programmes — even though Congress, which has the power of the purse in the federal government, had authorised their funding. Scholars at the Boston University School of Public Health estimate the loss of US aid led to 176,000 deaths during this period, and may exceed 320,000 by year's end. Yet the savings from gutting refugee assistance programs is vanishingly small, a small percentage of the roughly 1% of US spending devoted to international affairs. The Lancet, a British medical journal, reported last month that budget cuts and the shuttering of the US. Agency for International Development — whose programs saved an estimated 91 million lives over the last two decades — could cause 14 million deaths in low- and middle-income countries by 2030. The impact of the US cuts will be felt for generations, undermining the possibility of a constructive immigration policy at home and diminishing US power and standing abroad. Meanwhile, China has exploited the situation by funding aid and humanitarian programmes of its own, particularly in the strategically vital Indo-Pacific, as well as in Africa and South America. I work with the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS)/USA, a branch of a 45-year-old nongovernmental organisation that has aided refugees from 57 nations. It serves some of the world's neediest people, including unaccompanied children, the severely handicapped and the chronically and terminally ill. Its work, and that of similar NGOs, has promoted a secure and productive world that values human life and dignity. Feed the Future worked in 20 countries to lift 23.4 million people out of poverty, relieve 5.2 million households from hunger, and remove 3.4 million children from the threat of stunted growth caused by malnutrition. In the 2024-2025 school year, JRS Chad served 32,975 Sudanese children in 21 refugee camps, offering them educational support and, by extension, child protection. The US President's Malaria Initiative, launched under the George W. Bush, has helped save 11.7 million lives and has prevented 2.1 billion cases of malaria since 2000, primarily among children under the age of 5 in African countries.

WaHa closes US $8mn Series A-1 financing to accelerate global growth
WaHa closes US $8mn Series A-1 financing to accelerate global growth

ME Construction

time14-07-2025

  • ME Construction

WaHa closes US $8mn Series A-1 financing to accelerate global growth

Financial WaHa closes US $8mn Series A-1 financing to accelerate global growth By The funding eliminates debt, streamlines WaHa's cap table, and provides capital for major commercial milestones and future funding and also supports a growing pipeline of qualified sales opportunities in the UAE and GCC Water Harvesting (WaHa), a climate technology company that develops innovative solutions for water scarcity, announced the completion of a US $8mn Series A-1 financing round and a corporate reorganisation. The round was lead by Chairman Mike Phillips and Board member Christian Thirion, with significant participation from the company's note holders and investors, including Berkeley Catalyst Fund, Anthropocene Institute, Vestafund, and Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co. This funding eliminates all debt, streamlines WaHa's cap table, and provides the necessary capital to achieve its next major commercial milestones and secure its next funding round. Moreover, it supports a growing pipeline of qualified sales opportunities across the UAE and the broader GCC region. Field trials conducted at Khalifa University have demonstrated WaHa's ability to reliably harvest pure water in the UAE's harsh desert environment, characterised by extreme heat, low moisture, and frequent sandstorms, said a statement. WaHa's upcoming event exhibition in Dubai will mark the unveiling of its first commercially available AWG unit. This event will provide an opportunity for utilities, developers, and industrial operators to explore WaHa's solutions and discover reliable, sustainable access to pure water. Mike Phillips, Chairman of WaHa said, 'We've built a platform capable of transforming access to water across multiple sectors. This raise will enable us to establish solid traction for the WaHa Vaporator and improve water security in the UAE and broader GCC.' Frank Ramirez, CEO of WaHa added, 'We're grateful for the support of our investors and partners, this is a major step toward delivering water where it's needed most—reliably, efficiently, and sustainably. We're proud of what our team has achieved and energised for what's ahead.' Since 2023, WaHa has deployed its atmospheric water generation (AWG) systems in diverse and challenging environments, including West Texas, Abu Dhabi, a remote UAE desert site, Riyadh, and Stockholm. These systems have consistently achieved mechanical reliability, with a 99.998% reliability rate. Furthermore, they have consistently produced 98.3% of the target water volume, setting the highest sustained output in the AWG industry. WaHa's extensive patent portfolio, comprising 14 patent families and 18 patents granted worldwide, safeguards its proprietary WaHa Vaporator technology. This modular system is designed to support off-grid installations and integrate with HVAC and agricultural systems. WaHa is negotiating commercial agreements for manufacturing, distribution, and long-term service and support, the statement concluded.

DMW urges ships to avoid Red Sea, Gulf of Aden amid rising threats
DMW urges ships to avoid Red Sea, Gulf of Aden amid rising threats

Filipino Times

time13-07-2025

  • Filipino Times

DMW urges ships to avoid Red Sea, Gulf of Aden amid rising threats

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) renewed its call for shipowners and manning agencies to steer clear of high-risk maritime zones such as the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, following attacks in the region. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac stressed that simply following safety protocols is not enough. 'The best way to protect our seafarers is to avoid these danger zones altogether,' he said. Cacdac cited Department Order No. 1, s. 2024, which mandates stronger protective measures for Filipino seafarers, especially given recent threats of hijacking and violence at sea. He emphasized that failure to report ship movements through these zones will lead to sanctions against non-compliant manning agencies and shipowners. The DMW is actively tracking developments and staying in contact with affected seafarers and their families. According to Secretary Cacdac, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the agency to prioritize seafarers' safety and their families' welfare. 'We owe them protection, not promises,' Cacdac asserted.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store