Worries over Edsa jam spur calls for more preps
Lawmakers and a big labor group on Tuesday weighed in on the odd-even scheme to be implemented on Edsa starting June 16, the same day the busy thoroughfare starts a major rehabilitation, and suggested measures to better address the expected worsening of traffic congestion.
Senators urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to conduct a massive information drive about the policies that the government will adopt to lessen the inconvenience that the two-year Edsa Rebuild project would cause to the public.
They also called on those tasked with implementing new traffic measures, particularly the odd-even scheme and the No Contact Apprehension Policy, to closely study their effects on the flow of vehicles on certain times of the day.
Sen. JV Ejercito, a known bike and motorcycle enthusiast, expressed doubts over the effectiveness of the plan to prohibit motorcycles from using the underpasses and overpasses along Edsa.
“Having motorcycle lanes or ‘shared lanes’ can be (implemented) for an experimental period in certain areas,” Ejercito said in a Viber message.
“But (the plan) to ban motorcycles from overpasses and underpasses should be reviewed and reconsidered. This might create more congestion and chaos at the intersections (of Edsa),” he warned.
Ejercito said the MMDA, DOTr and other appropriate agencies should likewise take a second look at the 24-hour implementation of the odd-even scheme.
According to him, the policy could be “more effective” only during rush hours.
Information drive
Sen. Grace Poe, the vice chair of the Senate committee on public services, said that motorists and the riding public should be made aware of the drastic changes in the traffic policies on Edsa before starting the repair works.
“The DOTr and MMDA must launch an aggressive public information campaign. We should not surprise the people,” Poe said in a statement.
She agreed that the rehabilitation of Metro Manila’s busiest road was “long overdue, but any policy that restricts movement must be communicated clearly and justified with data.”
“While waiving Skyway toll fees can manage congestion, many motorists are already reacting negatively to the proposed odd-even scheme,” the senator noted.
Motorists may also pass through North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) Connector—an 8-kilometer toll road linking the end of NLEx in Caloocan to Sta. Mesa, Manila—for free during the course of Edsa rehabilitation as Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) is willing to extend relief to the commuting public.
What companies can do
To help commuters cope, she said companies can also do their part by offering shuttle services and adopting flexible work arrangements, including work-from-home setups.
For Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, a former MMDA chair, construction activities and road repairs must be conducted only during nighttime, or from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
He said the repair works should also be done in phases in the five main sections of the 24-kilometer highway: Pasay, Makati-Guadalupe, Ortigas, Cubao and Caloocan.
“(Edsa) should be rehabilitated. But it should be done with careful planning and thoughtful consideration to the flow of traffic and the people’s livelihood,” he said.
Impact on labor
On Tuesday, the Federation of Free Workers (FFW) also called on the Department of Labor and Employment to initiate a tripartite dialogue among the government, employers and workers.
The labor group took note of the scorching heat in Metro Manila, where many workers endure long commutes and exposure to extreme temperatures with little to no shelter.
“Given the scale of disruption expected from the Edsa rehab, a proactive and institutionalized tripartite dialogue is essential,” FFW president Sonny Matula said in a statement.
“This is not just a traffic issue—it is a labor and management concern where coresponsibility must be practiced, ” he added.
The FFW stressed that workers and employers should not be left alone to navigate these disruptions.
“This is not business as usual. A coordinated, inclusive approach—including flexible work arrangements, work-from-home setups, transport assistance, or staggered shifts—can help ease the burden on the workforce while maintaining business continuity,” Matula suggested.
Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma earlier advised employers and employees affected by the Edsa Rebuild to conduct consultations and work out mutually agreeable solutions.
1-month dry run
The odd-even scheme to be enforced on Edsa will be on a dry run basis for a month, not a week, the MMDA clarified on Tuesday.
In a public advisory, the MMDA said violators will be accosted and given traffic violation tickets, but they won’t be fined yet.
The MMDA traffic engineering center also published on Tuesday the list of vehicle categories exempted from the odd-even scheme.
These include electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in and other hybrids recognized by the Department of Energy.
Also exempted are motorcycles and nonmotorized vehicles; emergency vehicles,such as fire trucks and police mobile units; public utility vehicles such as city buses, jeepneys, and taxis; transport network vehicles operating under the accredited ride-hailing platforms, and authorized marked government vehicles with official plates used for essential services.
Vehicles crossing the Edsa intersections are exempted from the odd-even scheme.
The scheme will be implemented 24/7 except on Saturdays and Sundays.
The MMDA said that aside from Edsa, all other major roads in the metropolis will remain covered by the existing expanded number coding scheme. —WITH A REPORT FROM TYRONE JASPER C. PIAD
