DPWH eyes EDSA rehab in 2027 after ASEAN hosting

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is likely to begin major rehabilitation works on EDSA in 2027, following the Philippines’ hosting of the ASEAN Summit in 2026, a senior official 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 during the Post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) Forum in San Juan City.

Bonoan said the department has already submitted its proposals to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for expediting the repair timeline while minimizing traffic disruption. In June 2024, the President ordered the temporary suspension of the project to prevent severe traffic congestion, prompting agencies to evaluate alternative methods and technologies.

“We are looking at what technology we can use to make the work faster,” Bonoan said. “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.”

The project has an estimated cost of around %u20B115 billion. Bonoan noted that the use of new construction technologies could lead to slight cost adjustments, possibly lowering the total.

EDSA, a 23.8-kilometer thoroughfare running from Caloocan to Pasay, serves as a critical north-south corridor in Metro Manila. The road plays a central role in the region’s transport network, with tens of thousands of commuters and vehicles relying on it daily.

Government agencies are currently conducting a cost-benefit analysis of the rehabilitation plan to assess its long-term benefits and minimize short-term impact on urban mobility.