TRANSPORTATION Secretary Vince Dizon yesterday clarified that the rehabilitation of the 23.8-kilometer EDSA was not cancelled but was suspended only for a month by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The rehabilitation project was earmarked to start on June 13.
“Hindi naman po ibig sabihin cancelled…Pero sabi lang talaga ng Pangulo, nakinig siya sa ating mga kababayan for us to find a better way and a faster way (It was not cancelled. The President said that he listened to the concerns of the people for us to find a better and faster way),” Dizon said on the questioning of Rep. Johnny Pimentel, a member of the CA panel, during the deliberations on his appointment as Transportation secretary.
Dizon said the President wants to shorten the period of repairs from two years to six months so as not to prolong the burden on the people passing EDSA.
“When he said a better way, he essentially meant a way that would be faster para hindi masyadong mahirapan ang ating mga kababayang dumadaan sa EDSA (When he [the President] said a better way, he essentially meant a way that would be faster so that our countrymen who use EDSA will not be so burdened),” he added.
Earlier this week, Marcos announced he was suspending the rehabilitation of EDSA for a month so that concerned agencies can conduct a thorough study to use modern technologies available to speed up repair works.
The government has allotted some P8.7 billion for the rehabilitation until the end of 2026.
But Dizon said the Department of Public Works and Highways estimated the cost to balloon to P15 billion by 2027.
He said the procurement is now in its “advanced stages.”
“Meron na yatang mga natapos na ang procurement pero alinsunod sa utos ng ating Pangulo na i-pause muna at maghanap ng mas maganda at mas mabilis na paraan. Baka kailangan is mag-adjust ang DPWH dito. But again, I have to defer to DPWH on this (I think there were some procurements done but upon the instructions of the President to pause further procurements so we can find better and faster ways to finish the repairs. I think the DPWH may need to adjust. But again, I have to defer to DPWH on this),” he said.
