MMDA delays Edsa repairs by 16 hours

MANILA, Philippines—The repair and concrete reblocking of 94 sections on the whole stretch of Edsa will start at 2 p.m. on Holy Wednesday instead of at 10 p.m. Tuesday.

Upon the suggestion of provincial bus operators, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) made an adjustment in the work schedule, providing 16 hours of “elbow room” for the thousands of motorists expected to leave the capital during the Holy Week break.

MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino announced on Monday that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) would start working on the southbound lane of Edsa from Holy Wednesday until Good Friday. It would then move to the northbound lane from Good Friday until 5 a.m. on Monday.

The adjustment was made following a meeting between MMDA officials and provincial bus operators at the agency’s office on Monday, ahead of the massive road repair work that was expected to cause heavy traffic on the busiest thoroughfare in the metropolis during Holy Week.

“We are giving them 16 hours to enter and exit Metro Manila through the South Luzon Expressway and North Luzon Expressway [without] engineering obstructions,” Tolentino said.

He added that the Magallanes Interchange and Pasay Road would be nearly closed to motorists during Holy Week as only one lane on both thoroughfares would remain open.

While the DPWH has yet to be informed about the change in work schedule, the MMDA has the last say as it is responsible for issuing permits for government road projects.

Acknowledging that there was a big demand for provincial buses due to the thousands of commuters expected to leave Metro Manila, Tolentino announced that he was suspending the number-coding scheme for these vehicles from Tuesday until Monday, April 21.

“There is no number-coding starting Tuesday but there is no road space for your additional buses because of the reblocking projects,” he told provincial bus operators.

Earlier, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board issued 594 special permits to provincial bus operators to ensure that there would be enough to accommodate passengers going out of town during the Holy Week.

Tolentino, meanwhile, reiterated his earlier suggestion that bus operators remind passengers to leave the capital ahead of the road work to avoid getting caught in heavy traffic.