MANILA, Philippines — As the government explores the possibility of charging motorists for using the highly congested Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), Senator Grace Poe said that it is important to consult the public before moving forward with the proposal.

“Before plans can be hatched to charge fees to motorists using EDSA, concerned agencies should first fix the daily gridlock on the main thoroughfare,” Poe said on Wednesday, addressing concerns about the potential impacts of the road pricing initiative.

Poe said that mass transportation must first offer a seamless, comfortable ride to commuters to encourage vehicle owners to leave their cars at home. 

She also called for the clearing of secondary streets to serve as viable alternative routes for those avoiding EDSA.

“Public consultation is indispensable to gather the views of the population who would be affected by the restrictions,” Poe said. 

She noted that without these measures in place, the planned road pricing could worsen the struggles of motorists already facing traffic congestion, high fuel prices, and inflation.

The proposal to impose a fee on motorists using EDSA was discussed in a meeting led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the Comprehensive Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) on Tuesday this week. 

According to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, the plan is designed to encourage more vehicle owners to shift to public transportation.

However, Remulla clarified that the road pricing scheme would only take effect once the CTMP for EDSA is fully implemented, ensuring that other measures are in place to alleviate traffic before imposing additional costs on motorists.