Dizon says rehabilitation of EDSA to start on Dec. 24

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

EDSA REHAB. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon during a press conference at the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority office in Pasig City on Wednesday (Dec. 17, 2025). He announced that the rehabilitation of EDSA will begin on Dec. 24. (Department of Public Works and Highways/facebook)

MANILA – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Wednesday said the rehabilitation of one of Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares is set to begin one week from now.

In a press briefing, Secretary Vince Dizon said the first phase of the rehabilitation of Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) will start next Wednesday, Dec. 24.

“The project has two phases, the initial phase will begin from Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City to Orense St., in Makati City,” he added, noting that the rest of EDSA will follow after.

The reblocking and asphalt overlay will continue all day until 4 a.m. of Jan. 5, 2026. After this, road works will only be done from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. on weekdays.

He explained that in the new plan, they will no longer reblock the whole EDSA, which was part of the original plan.

“We will no longer close the highway, what we’ll do is to reblock selected areas, where the works are being conducted,” DIzon said.

At the same time, the DPWH chief said that compared to the original plan of two years rehabilitation, the new plan will take a shorter period of time.

“In the old plan, the timeline is two years, but with the new plan, the works on EDSA will only be eight months. Four months for each phase,” he said.

Dizon also noted that the budget for the rehabilitation has been reduced to PHP6 billion from the original PHP17 billion.

“We have savings of PHP11 billion or almost 1/3 of the original budget,” he added.

The DPWH secretary also assured the public, especially motorists, that the rehabilitation would not result in heavy traffic.

“The President would like the works to have minimal effects on traffic,” he said.