MANILA, Philippines – EDSA Rehab is suspended! President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the suspension of the planned rehabilitation of EDSA, which included the implementation of an "odd-even" traffic scheme that would have restricted vehicle access based on license plate numbers.
The ambitious infrastructure project, which was set to begin on June 13 and initially cover the stretch from Pasay City to Shaw Boulevard, has faced growing public backlash over fears of worsening congestion—dubbed by critics as a potential “carmageddon.”
Speaking to reporters, Marcos explained that the decision to put the project on hold was made to allow government agencies more time to explore newer technologies and alternative solutions that could ease the burden on commuters and motorists.
“Mayroon tayong mga nakita na bagong teknolohiya na hindi natin ginamit sa pagplano ng EDSA rehabilitation,” Marcos said.
“Kaya ininstructionan ko si [Transportation Secretary] Vince Dizon at si Manny Bonoan ng [Department of Public Works and Highways], at sinabi ko: pause muna doon sa rehabilitation.”
The suspension also halts the scheduled dry run of the odd-even traffic scheme, which was supposed to start on June 16. Under the plan, vehicles would have been restricted from using EDSA depending on the last digit of their license plates—an idea that had triggered renewed calls for a return to remote and hybrid work arrangements similar to those during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
While no new date has been set for the project's resumption, the President said the government needs about a month to reassess and improve the plan.
Marcos acknowledged the urgent need to rehabilitate EDSA but stressed that the potential disruptions currently outweigh the expected benefits.
“Ang daming sakripisyo, masyadong mabigat, masyadong mahigpit ang traffic kaya pause na muna 'yan,” he said, adding that the government aims to significantly reduce the originally proposed three-year construction period to just six months to a year.
“In other words, ang sinasabi ko, we will find a better way na hindi masyadong mahirap,” Marcos added.
Senator JV Ejercito welcomed the suspension, emphasizing the need for a thorough assessment of the project's economic impact.
“Glad that the President already issued an order suspending the EDSA rehab! An honest-to-goodness economic benefit assessment is needed for this project,” he said in a Facebook post.
Ejercito cited data from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which estimates that Metro Manila’s traffic congestion currently costs the economy more than P3.5 billion daily—a figure that could rise to P5.4 billion by 2035 if left unaddressed.
“Urgent action is needed,” Ejercito said, “but it must be done carefully to avoid making the problem worse.”
— The Summit Express