The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is likely to start major repair works on EDSA in 2027, after the Philippines hosts the ASEAN meeting in 2026, its secretary said.
“Maybe next year or 2027 because there’s an ASEAN meeting. Well, as soon as we are getting the go signal from the President. But it may not be practicable to do it now,” DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan told reporters on the sidelines of the 2024 Post-State of the Nation Address Forum in San Juan City.
Bonoan said the agency already submitted its recommendations to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on how to fast-track the EDSA repair.
“We are looking at what technology we can use to make the work faster. The President does not want the lanes on EDSA to be closed for too long. So, that is what we are looking at. We have something to recommend that we will not close traffic on EDSA any longer,” Bonoan said.
The estimated project cost for the EDSA rehabilitation is about P15 billion. With the new technology the agency is proposing, Bonoan said there would be “slight changes” in the project cost, adding, “Maybe it’s lower.”
In June 2024, President Marcos ordered a temporary suspension of major rehabilitation works to mitigate severe traffic congestion the project was expected to cause.
This gave agencies time to explore alternative approaches and new technologies that could shorten the construction timeline and lessen the impact on commuters.
EDSA, a crucial 23.8-kilometer stretch, connects Pasay City in the south to Caloocan City in the northern part of Metro Manila. The government is conducting a thorough cost-benefit analysis of the long-term rehabilitation plan, carefully weighing its benefits against the short-term impact on traffic.
