Drivers of four-wheeled vehicles in Metro Manila may soon have to pay a fee to use the heavily congested Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa), as part of the government’s efforts to ease traffic and promote public transportation.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the proposal was discussed during a meeting on the Comprehensive Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) for Metro Manila and nearby provinces, led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“This is something we are thoroughly studying. There might be a metering system powered by AI,” Remulla said in Filipino during an interview with radio station dwPM when asked about measures to encourage car owners to shift to public transport.
When asked if this would mean implementing a fee for four-wheeled vehicles similar to congestion pricing systems in other countries, Remulla replied, “Yes. So it becomes a privilege, not a right. The road will become anti-cars.”
Remulla pointed out that while only 17 percent of Metro Manila’s population uses private vehicles, they occupy around 80 percent of the road space.
However, he emphasized that such a scheme would only be implemented after the CTMP is fully in place. “The first priority is to make public transportation efficient, reliable, and comfortable,” he added.