Ever since its inception, there has been an assumption by a lot of individuals – especially VIPs, politicians, government-marked vehicles, and their contractors – that the EDSA bus lane is also for their use and traffic enforcers will always extend courtesy by not ticketing them for violation.

After the recent EDSA bus lane incident that resulted in the preventive suspension of NTFSOU commander, Edison “Bong” Nebrija, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has outlined who’s allowed and who’s not allowed to use the bus lane.

In a recent briefing, MMDA Acting Chairman, Atty. Don Artes, said that only 5 VIPs are allowed to use the bus lane: the President, Vice President, Senate President, House Speaker, and the Chief Justice (and their convoys). Emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire trucks; police and military vehicles on official functions are also allowed to use the EDSA bus lane.

The strict enforcement will begin on Monday, November 20, 2023.

Artes added that this is in accordance with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) order and that other VIPs or politicians who are not included on the above list will be ticketed for bus lane violation.

Under the new MMDA Regulation No. 23-002, approved by the Metro Manila Council (MMC), the increased fines for the violation of the exclusive city Bus Lane/EDSA Carousel Lane regulation for both public and private vehicles are:

First Offense – PHP 5,000

Second Offense – PHP 10,000 plus 1 month suspension of driver’s license, and required to undergo a road safety seminar

Third Offense – PHP 20,000 plus 1-year suspension of driver’s license

Fourth Offense – PHP 30,000 plus recommendation to Land Transportation Office for revocation of driver’s license