Senator JV Ejercito has raised concerns over the impending EDSA rehabilitation project, set to commence on June 13, warning that it could lead to severe traffic disruptions.
Ejercito questioned whether the relevant government agencies have conducted an economic impact assessment for the comprehensive rehabilitation of EDSA.
He emphasized that, in the short term, the project might cause more harm than good due to the potential for increased congestion.
The senator suggested postponing the full-scale rehabilitation until the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and the Metro Manila Subway System become operational.
The NSCR, a 147-kilometer commuter rail system, began construction in 2019 and is expected to commence partial operations by 2027, with full operations by 2029.
The Metro Manila Subway, the country’s first underground rapid transit line, started construction in 2019 and aims for partial operations by 2029.
Ejercito argued that with these alternative transportation systems in place, the public would have more efficient options, potentially reducing the number of vehicles on EDSA.
He pointed out that, currently, EDSA is heavily utilized by vehicles and motorcycles, and implementing restrictions on overpasses and underpasses, along with the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP), could exacerbate commuter frustration.