MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday ordered the temporary suspension of the EDSA rehabilitation project amid concerns raised by different sectors.
Marcos said that some of the feedback they have received include wariness on longer drives and commutes because of the expected traffic jam which would further decrease rest and family time for motorists and commuters.
“Besides that, we saw some innovative technology that we didn’t use in the planning of the EDSA rehabilitation. That’s why I instructed [Transportation] Secretary Vince Dizon and Secretary Manny Bonoan of the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) to pause the rehabilitation,” he said in Filipino at the sidelines of the launch of the ‘Pamilya Pass 1+3’ promo of the Department of Transportation at the MRT-3 Kamuning Station in Quezon City.
“Looking at the cost benefit analysis, it would be great if we could fix it. But the sacrifice… the traffic would be too heavy, the traffic is too tight. So, let’s pause it for now. I told them let’s give ourselves a month. Let’s study the new technologies. Let’s make a good plan,” he added.
Preparatory activities for EDSA’s rehabilitation were supposed to roll out on June 13.
