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Neil Jayson Servallos - The Philippine Star
June 2, 2025 | 12:00am
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) installs new signs reminding motorists of the no-contact apprehension policy (NCAP) along EDSA in Quezon City on Sunday, a day before the implementation of the NCAP in selected major thoroughfares of Metro Manila.
Miguel De Guzman / The Philippine STAR
MANILA, Philippines — Senators yesterday welcomed President Marcos’ order suspending the rehabilitation of EDSA, saying the project should not proceed until key railway lines are up and running.
“Glad that the President already issued an order suspending the EDSA rehab,” said Sen. JV Ejercito, citing concerns that construction could worsen Metro Manila’s traffic congestion.
Ejercito pointed to estimates from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which place the daily economic cost of traffic in the capital at more than P3.5 billion.
“According to JICA, this figure could rise to P5.4 billion per day by 2035 if we do nothing. That’s why urgent action is needed, but it must be done carefully to avoid making the problem worse,” he said.
Ejercito had been proposing the deferment of the EDSA rehabilitation until both the North-South Commuter Railway and the Metro Manila Subway are operational.
He added that while the EDSA bus lane would remain during construction, it would not be enough to prevent longer commutes for workers who rely on jeeps, shuttles and carpools.
“Side roads will become more crowded. These delays will hurt both productivity and the daily lives of ordinary Filipinos,” Ejercito said.
He warned that pushing through with the project prematurely could “risk pushing our traffic situation to the brink.”
Sen. Grace Poe said a rushed rollout of the rehabilitation without proper planning could have created more problems than it solved.
“We laud President Marcos for heeding reason in postponing the rehabilitation of EDSA,” Poe said in a statement.
She cautioned that shutting down parts of one of Metro Manila’s main arteries without adequate preparation “would result in mayhem, exacerbating the suffering of our commuters and motorists.”
Poe urged government agencies to use the suspension period to craft a “comprehensive and efficient plan for traffic management” ahead of the project’s eventual implementation.
Among the measures she recommended were phased construction and a 24/7 work schedule to minimize disruptions and shorten the timeline.
Meanwhile, Sen. Joel Villanueva urged the government and the private sector to allow work from home arrangements to help alleviate the burden of traffic congestion on workers.
