Marcos Puts Brakes on EDSA Rehabilitation to Explore Better Options

The long-awaited rehabilitation of EDSA, Metro Manila’s busiest highway, has been temporarily put on hold. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. recently announced that the project, which was set to begin on June 13, will be delayed for at least a month. The reason? He wants to give experts time to see if modern technologies can speed up the process and reduce the impact on commuters.

The original plan involved lane-by-lane repairs along the 23.8-kilometer stretch, plus upgrades to pedestrian lanes and drainage systems. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) had earlier said the entire project could run until 2027 and would cost about PHP 8.7 billion.

President Marcos pointed out that while improving EDSA is a clear benefit, a two-year disruption could be too much for the public to bear without careful planning. He emphasized the need to come up with a smarter, more efficient approach to minimize long-term inconvenience.

When the rehab does move forward, heavy traffic is expected, something most Metro Manila residents are already too familiar with. But if the government can figure out how to carry out the repairs faster and more efficiently, the short-term sacrifices might be easier to accept.

For now, EDSA’s full-scale makeover will have to wait while planners go back to the drawing board in search of better solutions.

Photo by Kurt Merilles on Unsplash