2025 June 23

Demand the Resignation of MMDA Chairman Romando Artes: A Threat to Inclusive Mobility and Public Transport!

The EDSA Busway has been a lifeline for millions of Filipinos, moving hundreds of thousands of commuters daily with efficiency and reliability. Since its implementation, it has provided an essential alternative to the congested roads of Metro Manila, offering a people-centered and inclusive mobility solution. However, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes is now considering its removal—an irresponsible and shortsighted move that would severely harm the commuting public.

By suggesting that the EDSA Busway be dismantled to ‘free up’ road space for private vehicles, Artes is proving himself incompetent and a mismatch for an agency that should prioritize public transport and sustainable mobility. As someone who is not an urban planner but comes from a different background, he lacks the expertise required to make informed decisions on transport and urban mobility. This proposal is not just impractical; it is oppressive to the millions of Filipinos who rely on an efficient transport system every day.

Additionally, the suggestion to remove bike lanes along EDSA and narrow the two-way protected bike lanes along Commonwealth Avenue to accommodate motorcycles imposes severe dangers to the thousands of cyclists who use these lanes daily. Commonwealth Avenue is already one of the widest thoroughfares in Metro Manila, with as many as 18 lanes in some sections, and further shrinking the safe space for cyclists is not only unnecessary but deliberately oppressive. Such proposals ignore the importance of safe, dedicated infrastructure for cyclists and other vulnerable road users, and run contrary to the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028 which calls for promoting active transport and inclusive mobility. (Source: Rappler) (Source: PDP 2023-2028, Chapter 12: Sustainable Urban Development and Resilient Communities)

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) itself has acknowledged the crucial role of the EDSA Busway, which served over 63 million passengers in 2024 alone. Removing it would be catastrophic, and if anything, MRT and MMDA should be reconsidered for their redundancy, given the efficiencies that Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems and the DOTr provide.

If Chairman Artes cannot champion solutions that serve the people rather than private vehicle owners, then he should resign. We call on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the national government to remove Chairman Artes from his position and appoint a leader who truly understands and upholds inclusive and sustainable mobility.

Sign this petition to demand the resignation of MMDA Chairman Romando Artes and stand against the dismantling of the EDSA Busway and the endangerment of cyclists on Commonwealth Avenue!

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2025 Feb 6

The EDSA Busway has been a cornerstone of Metro Manila's public transportation system since its inception in June 2020. By 2024, it had served over 63 million commuters, averaging approximately 177,000 passengers daily. pna.gov.ph

In the first five months of 2024 alone, the busway accommodated 23.3 million passengers, reflecting its growing importance in the city's transit infrastructure. insiderph.com

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has lauded the EDSA Busway as the "most efficient public road transport system in Metro Manila." pna.gov.ph

Commuters have benefited from reduced travel times and increased reliability, making it a preferred mode of transportation for many. 

Despite these successes, there are proposals to phase out the EDSA Busway in conjunction with the expansion of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) system. manilastandard.net

Additionally, suggestions to repurpose bike lanes along EDSA for motorcycle use have raised safety concerns for the thousands of cyclists who rely on these lanes daily. unbox.ph

It's crucial to recognize that dismantling the EDSA Busway could have catastrophic effects on daily commuters, leading to increased congestion and longer travel times. The busway's removal would not only disrupt the lives of those who depend on it but also undermine efforts to promote sustainable and inclusive urban mobility.

We urge the public to stand against these proposals and advocate for leadership that prioritizes efficient, safe, and inclusive transportation solutions for all.

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2024 April 26

Advocating for bike infrastructure is essential for our planet's well-being. With soaring temperatures and urgent climate concerns, decarbonizing our transportation is critical. Let's work to overturn this unjust and unsustainable ban. With the current Acting Chairman of MMDA's assault to the commuting public, we demand him to resign in his position as he is deemed not suitable, incompetent, and backward thinking. Bypassing both the Department of Transportation and the Office of the President in terms of the Philippine Development Plan's initiative for sustainable and walkable cities and the EVIDA Law. We demand that President Marcos Jr. replace him with one that hears the commuter's demands and addresses it the right way. #KalsadaParaSaMasa #ArtesResign

Everything Artes is going against:

EVIDA, PDP, NTP, PRSAP, NCR Regional Development Plan, Batas Pambansa 344 or Accessibility Law