THE Department of Transportation (DOTr), in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), is set to begin the EDSA Rebuild project by mid-June this year in accordance with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon yesterday said that while there is still no exact date, the target is to break ground by mid-June.
“Wala pang exact date pero middle of June ang target. Kailangang simulan na ‘yan kasi nga, sabi ng Pangulo, 45 years na bago talagang inayos ang EDSA. Kaya nga ang tatawagin namin dito hindi na Edsa rehab, Edsa Rebuild na. Kasi build better more na ito (There’s no exact date yet, but we’re targeting mid-June. We need to start already because, as the President said, it’s been around 45 years since EDSA was last properly fixed. That’s why we’re calling it the EDSA Rebuild, not just a rehab. This is part of the ‘Build Better More’ initiative),” Dizon said.
Dizon also said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will implement traffic rerouting schemes and other mitigating measures to ease the expected congestion once construction begins.
“We’ll make the necessary announcements, schedules, plans, re-routings, and mitigating measures at the same time,” he added.
Last week, the DOTr, DPWH, and MMDA held a coordination meeting to finalize the implementation plan for the EDSA Rebuild Project. This initiative directly responds to the President’s directive to improve commuter experience and road user safety on EDSA, one of Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfares.
Dizon also reported improvements to commuter facilities along the EDSA Busway with the operation of elevators in six stations – Monumento, Bagong Barrio, Balintawak, SM North EDSA, Philam, and Guadalupe.
Yesterday, Dizon led an inspection of the Balintawak Station to ensure the elevators were functional in accordance with President Marcos’ instruction to make public transportation more convenient and accessible, particularly for senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
A total of 18 elevators in the six stations have been activated to ease passenger movement.
The DOTr is also set to announce the winning bidder for the P253 million contract for Phase 1 of the EDSA Busway Stations Rehabilitation Project this month.
This project is scheduled to be completed within one year, comprising three months for design and nine months for construction. The timeline begins upon the issuance of the notice to proceed next month.
Phase 1 will cover rehabilitation of the Monumento, Bagong Barrio, Guadalupe, and North Avenue stations. The project will follow the architectural and functional standards established by the SM North EDSA Concourse and Busway Station, which has become the model design for the system.
The EDSA Busway, with 23 stations operating 24/7, is seen as a key pillar in the modernization of Metro Manila’s public transportation system, providing commuters with safer, faster, and more efficient travel options.
