House bill wants agricultural delivery vehicles to use EDSA Busway

The EDSA Busway has proven to be useful when it comes to ferrying passengers along the busy thoroughfare. With a dedicated lane for the EDSA Carousel buses, commuters are able to get to their destinations faster besides taking the MRT-3.

Given its advantage, a solon seeks to allow agricultural and food delivery vehicles to take the EDSA Busway for faster delivery of goods. This comes after AGRI Partylist Representative Wilbert Lee filed a resolution to open and expand the EDSA Busway to such vehicles during night hours.

Under Resolution 2162 from the House of Representatives, Lee shared that the delivery of agricultural goods faces constant challenges due to Metro Manila traffic. It also hampers the timely arrival of perishable goods which can lead to food wastage and increased costs for suppliers and consumers.

With that, the solon proposed to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to allow agricultural and food delivery vehicles to pass through the EDSA Busway between the hours of 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM, including Sundays and holidays.

“Through this, we can ensure the timely and efficient transport of fresh produce, meats, dairy, and other essential food items to Metro Manila and neighboring areas, which will help lower food prices and achieve food security,” said Lee.

Under the proposed resolution, Lee added that such arrangements can be developed into a formal policy to ensure all necessary measures are in place to regulate the entry of agricultural and food delivery vehicles. In addition, Resolution 2162 also seeks to coordinate with the LTFRB and MMDA to avoid potential disruptions to the busway’s primary function.

Last but not least, the resolution urged the DOTr to facilitate consultations with agricultural and food industry stakeholders to further optimize food supply logistic chains to address issues related to food distribution in the metro.

Will allowing agricultural delivery vehicles help in hastening the delivery of perishable goods to and from their destinations? Let us know in the comments.