MANILA— Edsa will remain clogged unless the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reduces the number of buses, not cars, plying in Metropolis’ main highway, Senator Ralph Recto said Sunday.

Quoting a World Bank report, Recto said there should only be 1,600 buses in Edsa but its actual number using the road is close to 7,000 on a daily basis.

“We cut down by half the current volume, we cut down traffic and even pollution along Edsa,” he said, adding heavy traffic cost Metro Manila around US$2 billion a day.

He said a recent proposal by the MMDA banning cars from using Edsa on alternating days will not work.

Recto urged the MMDA to instead find "a laser-powered approach to cut through the volume of buses traversing Edsa." (Jonathan de Santos/Sunnex)