The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will suspend its rehabilitation of EDSA during Holy Week, Secretary Manuel Bonoan said Monday.
“Hinahanda natin pero ang gusto ko lang sabihin, hindi kami mag gagawa nitong Holy Week. Hindi kami makakapag pagawa ngayong Holy Week,” he said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.
(We’re preparing for it, but what I just want to say is, we won’t be doing this during Holy Week. We won’t be able to proceed with it this Holy Week.)
Bonoan said this is because of ongoing preparations for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meeting.
“Ang gagawin lang muna namin dito is ilalagay muna namin ‘yung detour bridges, southbound at saka northbound, and then siguro kapag natapos ‘yung ASEAN meeting, tsaka na namin kukumpunihin ‘yung dalawang structures,” he said.
(What we’ll do for now is install the detour bridges, both southbound and northbound, and then maybe after the ASEAN meeting, that’s when we’ll repair the two structures.)
Bonoan said the agency may begin its operations on May 15, following the upcoming elections.
DPWH NCR Director Lorie Malaluan previously said the rehabilitation will be done on one northbound and 15 southbound segments to improve the road-riding surface, pavement durability, and the overall safety of the riding public.
The project will start with the northbound section, Malaluan said, while awaiting procurement for the southbound segments and the release of allotments from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Repairs at the northbound lane will be from Balintawak to Monumento, while similar works at the southbound lane will start from Monumento to Roxas Boulevard. Rehabilitation efforts include placing reinforcements in EDSA’s concrete pavement, and asphalt overlaying with the introduction of anti-rutting modifiers.
Malaluan said repairs would cost P300 million for one northbound segment, and about P7 billion for 15 southbound segments. — Joahna Lei Casilao/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
