The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) now plans to kick off major rehabilitation works on EDSA by 2027, following a decision to postpone construction to avoid traffic disruption during the country’s hosting of the ASEAN Summit next year.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier deferred the repairs to give agencies time to “find a better way” to upgrade the decades-old highway without severely affecting daily commutes.
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Faster and Cheaper Solution Eyed
Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan confirmed that the DPWH has submitted a revised plan aiming to speed up the rehabilitation and cut costs compared to the previous P8.7-billion allocation.
“Maybe next year or 2027 because there's an ASEAN meeting. Well, as soon as we get the go signal from the President. But it may not be practicable to do it now,” Bonoan shared during the 2024 Post-SONA Forum.
Bonoan noted that with new construction technologies, the agency could finish the EDSA project in just six months and at a lower budget. The DPWH is exploring methods that will limit or avoid full lane closures to keep Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare moving even during repairs.
“[President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] does not want the lanes on EDSA to be closed for too long. So, that is what we are looking at,” Bonoan explained.
Parallel Efforts on Transport Projects
Beyond EDSA’s rehabilitation, the government is also pushing forward with other key infrastructure projects. Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon reported progress in clearing right-of-way issues for the P488.5-billion Metro Manila Subway, particularly in the challenging Ortigas section that cuts through commercial areas and gated villages.
Dizon said the Department of Transportation sought help from Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto to acquire the remaining lots needed under contract package 104 awarded to Megawide Construction Corp.
Meanwhile, the DPWH’s new EDSA plan still awaits the President’s final approval, but Bonoan expressed optimism that using faster technologies will help balance urgent repairs with keeping traffic flowing.
“We are looking at what technology we can use to make the work faster,” he noted.
EDSA, spanning nearly 24 kilometers from Pasay City to Caloocan, remains the busiest road in Metro Manila and a vital corridor for millions of daily commuters. Officials hope the delayed but reworked plan will result in quicker completion and less disruption.
