DPWH delays EDSA rehab until 2026 due to rain, ASEAN Summit

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced on Friday that the rehabilitation of EDSA will likely start in 2027, with initial plans now postponed due to the rainy season and the upcoming ASEAN Summit.

Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan cited these reasons for delaying the project until at least 2026 or later, adding that night-time roadworks are being considered to minimize traffic disruption.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had earlier ordered a suspension of the EDSA rehabilitation project in June to further study its impact on commuters and economic activity, aiming to minimize disruption.

Experts like Nigel Paul C. Villarete from Libra Konsult advised against further delays due to increasing economic costs, while former Transportation Science Society of the Philippines president Rene S. Santiago warned that traffic would worsen by 2027.

The DPWH is exploring non-conventional construction technologies to speed up rehabilitation and reduce the project's duration to six months with an estimated cost under P15 billion.