From P17B to P5.8B: EDSA rehab cheaper and faster, says Dizon

MANILA, Philippines — The government has reduced both the cost and timeline of the long-delayed rehabilitation of EDSA, with Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon saying the project is now designed to be completed with less disruption.

“The entire budget now for the EDSA rehabilitation is only going to cost us now P5.8 billion... just a third of the P17 billion originally proposed,” Dizon said on ANC's "Headstart" on Wednesday, April 29.

The project was first pushed publicly in 2025 as a major Department of Public Works and Highways-led repair and upgrade of Metro Manila's main artery. Early plans targeted segmented works starting around March 2025 and later June 2025.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, however, suspended the activities on June 1, 2025 after some public outcry over the massive congestion it could cause. Marcos gave agencies time to find a "better way." The project then formally started on Dec. 24, 2025 as Filipinos were about to have their holiday break.

Dizon said the revised plan cuts the project timeline from about two and a half years to less than a year.

“Instead of having to wait two and a half years, we will now wait less than one year for it,” Dizon said.

Initial works have already been completed along a key stretch of the highway.

“As of a couple of weeks ago… we're done from Roxas Boulevard to Orense in Makati,” he said, referring to the first phase of the project.

Dizon said the segment was finished nearly two months ahead of schedule, with the first phase costing about P1.8 billion.

“That is practically almost two months ahead of schedule,” he added.

The revised plan was shaped by instructions to minimize the impact on Metro Manila traffic, one of the main concerns under the earlier proposal.

“There is minimal disruption,” Dizon said of the updated rollout. “Pwede ba once and for all ayusin na natin ang EDSA na pangmatagalan at ayusin na natin ang tama."

The changes are under a Marcos administration push to deliver long-term fixes without prolonged closures on one of the country’s busiest roads, he added.

Commuters in mind

For Dizon, the rehabilitation will not be limited to resurfacing, with improvements planned for pedestrian infrastructure.

“Hindi lang naman kotse ang gumagamit sa EDSA eh… it's about time we also prioritize the commuters and the pedestrians,” he said. (It's not only cars that use EDSA... it's about time we also prioritize the commuters and the pedestrians.)

Sidewalk upgrades will be part of the next phases of the project.

“To me, hindi pa tapos 'yan kasi aayusin pa natin 'yung sidewalk… kailangan i-prioritize 'yung commuters,” Dizon said. (It's not completed because we will fix the sidewalk... commuters should be prioritized.)

The DPWH has begun bidding for Phase 2 of the rehabilitation project this month.