The Manila Times
MANILA, Philippines — The southbound lane of the EDSA-Ortigas flyover in Mandaluyong City is now open, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said on Saturday, a day after a bus caught fire, affecting train operations and causing heavy traffic in the area. Based on the incident report, the DPWH- National Capital Region (NCR) said motorists were now allowed to pass the structure after the Planning and Design Department Structural Engineer and District Representatives assessed that the southbound lane of the Ortigas flyover has been cleared and is now passable to traffic. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered the agency to conduct a safety check to ensure that the road was safe for travel after a public utility bus caught fire on Friday. Meanwhile, the DPWH-NCR said the EDSA–Ortigas Interchange would undergo a more detailed inspection on Saturday to determine the extent of the damage and assess its structural integrity. “For the Ortigas Flyover Interchange, it is recommended to restrict access to light vehicles only,” it said. “Further testing is also advised to support a more detailed structural analysis, as exposed rebars and areas of spalling were observed in sections affected by the fire incident." In a separate advisory, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) advised motorists to take alternate routes while authorities continued post-incident clearing and safety measures. A bus caught fire along the EDSA-Ortigas flyover on Friday evening. The fire was first reported at around 6:10 p.m. on Friday, along the EDSA-Ortigas southbound lane, occupying two lanes and causing heavy traffic in the area. In an interview, Senior Fire Officer 4 Alvic Alabastro of the Mandaluyong Bureau of Fire Protection said the driver was alone when the incident happened. “When he was going up the flyover, he suddenly felt that something seemed wrong with the movement of his bus, like something stopped the brake, then the tire suddenly caught fire and something exploded. The tire exploded,” Alabastro said. “We are investigating the possible cause of the bus explosion. But according to the driver, allegedly, it suddenly seemed like something stopped the movement of his bus,” he added. The Department of Transportation said MRT-3 operations resumed at 6:50 p.m. Friday after slight delays caused by the fire, with trains running at reduced speeds between Ortigas and Santolan stations due to smoke from the burning bus. Two lanes along EDSA White Plains were affected, causing heavy traffic in the area.
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