By: Villamor C. Visaya Jr.
(Published in its print edition on January 25 – 31, 2025)
THE disgusting news about a convoy of an alleged lawmaker, who was caught traveling on the EDSA busway on January 23, has been etched as another violation of some legislators and their staffers who flaunt their status and break the law they helped and enacted.
The Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT) has reported that the SUV which is a part of the convoy had an ordinary plate number but displayed a seal of the House of Representatives. A traffic violation ticket was issued to the driver.
The SAICT neither confirm nor deny if the lawmaker was riding in one of the vehicles in the convoy.
The law and its implementing rules are explicit. The Department of Transportation specifies exceptions to the rule for vehicles to be allowed to use the EDSA busway.
Specifically, buses authorized by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) are allowed for the EDSA busway route. Buses with special permits and/or franchises to operate on the EDSA busway route are also allowed in some cases.
On-duty ambulances, fire trucks, and Philippine National Police vehicles are also allowed.
Even service vehicles performing their duties for the EDSA Busway Project, including but not limited to construction, security, janitorial, and maintenance services within the EDSA Busway are allowed.
The country’s President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court are also allowed and exempted from the law.
As if the penalties are not enough, many unallowed motorists are still plying along the busway without authorization.
The law says that first-time offenders would be charged P5,000 while second-time offenders would be slapped P10,000 fine, a one-month suspension of the driver’s license, and a mandatory road safety seminar. Third-time offenders would have a P20,000 fine on top of a one-year suspension of the driver’s license. Those fourth-time offenders would have a P30,000 fine and a recommendation to the Land Transportation Office for the driver’s license to be revoked.
Ah, some lawmakers are really lawbreakers. Why continue to patronize them? Come to think of it many times.#
