Quezon City: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has announced a one-month postponement of the planned comprehensive rehabilitation of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), a major thoroughfare in Metro Manila. The decision was made to explore alternative methods that could potentially reduce the project’s timeline and minimize public inconvenience.

According to Philippines News Agency, the rehabilitation was initially scheduled to commence on June 13. The President emphasized the importance of reassessing the cost-benefit analysis of the two-year project, citing concerns over the severe traffic congestion it would cause for the hundreds of thousands of commuters and motorists who rely on the 23-kilometer avenue daily.

In a recent event at the Metro Rail Transit-3 GMA-Kamuning Station in Quezon City, President Marcos explained that the discovery of new technologies prompted his directive to halt the project temporarily. He instructed Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon and Public Works and Highways Secretary Manny Bonoan to pause the rehabilitation efforts and consider these new technologies.

The government had previously planned to implement traffic mitigation strategies, including an odd-even vehicle scheme and offering free access to parts of the Skyway Stage 3, during the construction period. However, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has announced the cancellation of the odd-even scheme during the suspension period.

MMDA Chair Don Artes expressed that the postponement provides an opportunity to explore other traffic mitigation options that would be less burdensome for motorists and the commuting public. The existing number coding scheme will remain in effect while the agency revisits the traffic management plans for the EDSA rebuild.