Weighing the Pros and Cons of Privatizing the EDSA Carousel Program
After the Libreng Sakay program on the EDSA Busway system expired on December 31, 2022, it has been confirmed to come back for the year 2023, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced.
“We understand the plight of our commuting public…so President Bongbong Marcos gave us a directive to do our part, and to exert our best to help ease their burden,” Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman expressed in a statement.
The DBM has reportedly set P1.285-billion worth of funding in the 2023 national budget aside for the social contracting program, which would be organized through the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board. It is currently preparing the formal documents needed for the release.
Pangandaman added: “Whatever amount they [commuters] save daily, they can reallocate to more important needs such as budget for food, electricity, tuition fee, among others."
The Libreng Sakay program had first been implemented in November 2020 under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act during the Duterte administration. President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. would soon extend it during his term. In December, the program even offered carousel rides for free for 24 hours a day.
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It, however, has been met with criticism, too, for its "flawed" structure. Commuters have decried the long cues at the stops and the lack of accessible spaces for other transport options. At the time of its launch, the Move as One Coalition said that officials should “adopt a proper service contracting program and speed up its implementation." It had also released a 10-point agenda to address commuter woes.
The group said that the government should first work to address inflation, above all else. Apart from investing in infrastructure, the administration is encouraged to strengthen Metro Manila's walking, cycling, and public transport supply. It should also look into road-based public transport options as a sustainable strategy to mitigate transport inflation.
Talks of the privatization of the carousel have persisted, as well. According to a report by CNN Philippines, we could see a privatized EDSA carousel system by as early as the third quarter of 2023. DOTr Chief Jaime Bautista explained back in December that it hopes to work with the private sector to meet global standards. A study on the operations of the carousel yielded scores below 25% of the standard in other countries, he confirmed.
“Instead na kumita ang gobyerno, dapat i-share natin ‘yan sa pamasahe. Huwag na natin pataasin ang pamasahe. Ibigay natin sa system so we don’t have to increase the fares,” he said.
“Ano ang garantiya ng mga negosyante na magsisilbi sila sa interes ng publiko?...Alam naman nating ang interes ng pribadong sektor ay kung paano magpapalaki ng kita habang pinababa ang gastos sa operasyon at pasahod sa manggagawa." ?? pic.twitter.com/8nQMlVWHyo
— PISTON (@pistonph) December 29, 2022
Nevertheless, transport group PISTON questioned the idea of privatization. It said that this would not guarantee greater efficiency and that it could even mean higher fares for commuters.
“Hinihikayat namin si Secretary Bautista na pag-isipan ito nang mabuti. Ano ang garantiya ng mga negosyante na magsisilbi sila sa interes ng publiko kung ang interes ng publiko ay abot-kaya at mabisang serbisyo?” said PISTON National President Mody Floranda.
The group had argued that the current transportation crisis was due to the overdependence of the government on the private sector. It had urged the DOTr to rethink its strategy and for the government to focus more on allocating subsidies for social services across different modes of mass public transportation.
