Maybe the prayers of motorists were particularly strong this Sunday. President Bongbong Marcos today announced that the planned EDSA rehabilitation this month is suspended.
In a report by ABS-CBN, the president stated that he is suspending the planned interruption of the country’s busiest highway to “find a better way” for government agencies to move forward.
Marcos said they saw new technologies that were not used in planning the EDSA rehab, and he instructed DOTr secretary Vince Dizon and DPWH secretary Manny Bonoan to pause the controversial project.
So here’s the part most of you probably scrolled to. It is implied that the odd-even scheme, a blunt instrument used every now and then for traffic mitigation, will also be suspended. EV and hybrid vehicle manufacturers, who are heavily advertising their models’ exemption, should have also prayed hard that today’s announcement was done later.
President Marcos did not give a timeline on when the EDSA rehab will proceed, but he said the government needs about a month to study alternatives. He added that they will work on shortening the EDSA rebuild to six months to a year, a drastic reduction from the original three-year plan.
Marcos’ suspension of the EDSA rehabilitation also comes in the middle of a revamp of his cabinet, where he asked all secretaries to submit courtesy resignations. There is still no official word on whether the DOTr and DPWH secretaries will be retained. Both agencies are crucial in effecting a successful EDSA rebuild.
More details when we get them.
