EDSA rehab on hold amid traffic concerns

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has put the brakes on the planned rehabilitation of Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), citing the steep public cost in terms of traffic, time, and daily inconvenience. The project, which would have reintroduced an odd-even traffic scheme starting June 16, has been temporarily shelved.

Speaking at the launch of the Pamilya Pass 1+3 promo at the MRT Kamuning Station, the President explained that the decision was driven by the need to reassess the project using new technologies and better strategies that had not been incorporated into the original plan.

“We saw new technology that had not been used in planning the EDSA rehabilitation, so I instructed Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon and DPWH Secretary Manny Bonoan to pause the rehabilitation,” Marcos said.

The original plan was to begin the overhaul from Pasay to Shaw Boulevard, with work projected to span three years. This timeline raised serious concerns about massive traffic disruptions that would affect millions of commuters and motorists daily.

“There is a lot of sacrifice. Traffic will be too heavy, too tight, so let’s pause that for now,” the President stressed.

The suspension also halts the dry run of the odd-even traffic scheme, which had drawn public criticism and even calls to reimplement remote and hybrid work setups similar to those during the pandemic lockdowns.

Critics have warned that Metro Manila could face a potential “carmaggedon” if urgent repairs are not addressed soon, but the President believes this temporary pause will allow the government to revise its approach and cut the rehab period from three years to six months or one year.

“In other words, we will find a better way that will not cause too much inconvenience,” Marcos Jr. concluded. TRACY CABRERA