Motorists and commuters can expect “an entirely new EDSA” once the rehabilitation and sidewalk redesign of Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare is complete, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said.
“It’s a very ambitious plan,” Dizon said, referring to the long-delayed EDSA rehabilitation.
EDSA, a crucial 23.8-kilometer stretch, connects Pasay City in the south to Caloocan City in the northern part of Metro Manila.
Dizon said the President ordered the agency to find better ways to minimize disruptions for motorists and commuters once the EDSA rehabilitation begins.
In June, President Marcos ordered a temporary suspension of major rehabilitation works to prevent the severe traffic congestion the project was expected to trigger.
After consulting with various stakeholders, Dizon introduced a new strategy for the EDSA rehabilitation that prioritizes the convenience of motorists and commuters by reducing potential disruptions.
“The first plan was a minimum of two years. The President said that was not possible. It had to be short. The disruption had to be minimal, so the new plan was only eight months instead of two years using stone mastic asphalt,” Dizon said.
Dizon said that the budget for the EDSA rehabilitation has been reduced to P6 billion—a significant 64.7 percent decrease from the original P17 billion proposal. This revised strategy is expected to generate at least P11 billion in savings.
Dizon said the rehabilitation will start at 11 pm on December 24, 2025 and continue until 4 am on January 5, 2026.
According to Dizon, construction works would be 24/7.
“We will take advantage of that [holiday] season,” Dizon said, adding that the agency will be using new asphalt new technology from Japan for the EDSA repair.
Dizon said the first four months will cover the stretch from Roxas Boulevard to EDSA-Orense, while the remaining four months will focus on rehabilitating the rest of EDSA.
From Jan. 5 to May 31, 2026, construction will take place only on weekdays from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
Dizon noted that work will stop by 5 a.m. to ensure the road is fully open for regular traffic.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, meanwhile, assured that the EDSA Busway line is still dedicated for faster travel for commuters.
“The President always says that there should always be public transportation. We will ensure that our EDSA Busway has an adequate supply [of buses],” Lopez said.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, on the other hand, assured that it will deploy enforcers to ensure smooth traffic flow.
“Apart from the additional MMDA personnel, we will also open alternative routes so that traffic flows smoothly,” MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said.
A study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) revealed that traffic congestion in Metro Manila drains at least P3.5 billion daily from the Philippine economy, totaling a staggering P1.27 trillion annually.
JICA warned that without effective intervention, these losses are projected to climb to P5.4 billion per day, or P1.97 trillion a year, by 2035.
