Reform bus market to fix EDSA traffic – study

The huge volume of buses in Metro Manila that has contributed to the worsening traffic in major thoroughfares like EDSA can still be fixed by expanding the bus market’s capacity and efficiency, according to a study published by state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS).

In a discussion paper, PIDS President Gilberto Llanto and consultant Hope Gerochi said the best approach would be the “compete for the market” framework wherein bus operators will be consolidated into bus consortia, and only those that comply with the standards set by the government will be allowed to operate.