EDSA rehab could be postponed to 2027—DPWH

The Department of Public Works and Highways said EDSA rehabilitation could be postponed to 2027.

DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said that the rebuilding can no longer push through, as it has been overtaken by the rainy season and the preparations for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit in 2026.

“Hindi naman nating pwedeng galawin ang EDSA during 2026 because of the ASEAN meeting. Ayaw ni Presidente na maistorbo yung traffic during the ASEAN meeting,” Bonoan told the media.

The agency said that it has submitted a revised construction plan to Malacañang, with a proposed budget lower than the previous P8.7-billion allocation.

DPWH estimates that the EDSA rehab project may be completed in six months to a year. 

DPWH Assistant Secretary Loreta Malaluan said that the repair will no longer be done lane-by-lane and that it will be done at night instead of the whole day. “Hindi na kami magtatanggal ng pavement, unless na talagang deteriorated na yung pavement at kailangan i-reblock,” she said. She added that other than road damage, the agency is also looking to improve drainage systems. 

“May areas talaga tayo na binabaha na sa EDSA kaya talagang kailangan ayusin natin ang drainage. Kahit maganda yung kalsada natin, kung binabaha naman e balewale rin hindi ba?” said Malaluan.

In June, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the suspension of the EDSA rehabilitation to explore other ways to minimize the traffic impact.

"Meron tayong nakita na makabagong teknolohiya na hindi natin ginamit doon sa pagplano ng EDSA rehabilitation. Kaya ininstruksyonan ko si (Department of Transportation) Sec. Vince Dizon at Sec. Manuel Bonoan ng (Department of Public Works and Highways), sinabi ko, pause muna sa rehabilitation," he said at the time.

The rehab was originally set to begin with preparatory works by the evening of June 13. The public was warned to expect traffic obstruction and slowdown throughout the project, which was expected to be completed by 2027.