Edsa Rehabilitation Plans Set for Next Year
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is preparing to begin the rehabilitation of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) next year. The department confirmed that this year is not suitable to start the project due to the ongoing rainy season.
DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan explained in a recent interview that initiating major repairs during the wet season would only prolong the process and complicate construction efforts. “It will not be practical to undertake any major rehabilitation of Edsa now because it is already rainy season,” he stated. “Anything that we do in Edsa now is actually… it will just be a longer process because it’s rainy season,” he added.
Study on Efficient Edsa Rehabilitation Underway
The DPWH is currently conducting a “time and motion study” to determine how long the rehabilitation will take using modern materials and technologies. Bonoan shared that the agency is exploring new methods that could shorten the project duration and minimize public inconvenience.
“So far, we have been able to look for new materials, new technologies, that we might be able to recommend to shorten the implementation period of the Edsa rehabilitation program,” the secretary remarked. “We are in the process of looking at the most expeditious technology to implement the Edsa rehabilitation at the earliest possible time,” he added.
Innovative Approach to Edsa Pavement Repair
The DPWH is also revising its original plan for Edsa’s pavement. Initially, the plan was to remove the existing pavement, which is over 50 years old, and replace it with new materials. However, the new approach aims to preserve the current pavement by repairing only the damaged sections.
“The original program was to remove the pavement because it might break up soon. So that’s why the original plan was to remove it, replace it with a new one, and redo the base,” Bonoan explained. “But this time, our plan is actually… we might not remove the existing pavement. We’ll just have to correct the failed sections, and then we will stabilize the base and sub-base without removing the pavements. So those are the technologies that we have looked at at this point in time,” he added.
This method, the DPWH chief said, will make the rehabilitation faster and easier to implement. When asked about the estimated timeline, Bonoan said he could not specify the exact duration but assured it would be shorter than the original plan.
Government Adjustments and Public Impact
In June, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the postponement of the Edsa rehabilitation to allow for further studies on lessening the project’s impact on the public. Following this decision, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) also canceled the planned odd-even traffic scheme on Edsa.
These adjustments aim to reduce the inconvenience caused to motorists and residents while ensuring that the rehabilitation project is completed efficiently and effectively.
For more news and updates on Edsa rehabilitation plans, visit Filipinokami.com.