THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) awarded a P4-billion contract to a joint venture of Readycon Trading and Construction Corp. and Dumduma Construction and Trading Corp. for the second phase of the EDSA rehabilitation project, which is targeted for completion in 2027.
The P4.009-billion project covers the stretch from Orense Street in Makati City to Monumento in Caloocan City, completing the rehabilitation of Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare.
Construction kicked off in early July 2026, shortly after the June 4 contract signing and June 8 Notice to Proceed.
Early efforts focused on the northbound Ortigas Bus Lane in Mandaluyong City, where repairs began on July 4.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said the government was accelerating construction while minimizing disruptions to motorists and commuters.
Work is being undertaken in sections, with lanes reopened to traffic to keep EDSA passable during construction.
Beyond repairing damaged pavement, Phase 2 includes asphalt overlaying, concrete reblocking and rotomilling, and improvements to drainage and pedestrian facilities.
To enhance flood resilience, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon announced that drainage inlets in flood-prone areas will be tripled in size, facilitating faster rainwater runoff.
Moreover, the project aims to improve pedestrian accessibility by expanding sidewalks — currently measuring between 1.2 and 1.5 meters — to 3.2 meters, creating more space for pedestrians and cyclists.
The DPWH expects completion of the second phase in 2027, with construction proceeding lane by lane to limit traffic disruptions.
The EDSA overhaul has also faced scrutiny after potholes appeared on recently repaired sections following heavy monsoon rains in August.
Dizon attributed the damage near Estrella-Buendia in Makati to rainwater accumulating at a catch basin, with busway barriers preventing water from draining toward the existing drainage system.
The EDSA rehabilitation program aims to improve road quality and traffic safety along the capital’s main transport artery.
Phase 2 is expected to complete the remaining stretch of the highway, with the DPWH under pressure to ensure the upgraded pavement, drainage and sidewalks withstand heavy traffic and severe weather.
EDSA Phase 1 was completed on April 6, 2026, nearly two months ahead of its original May 31 deadline, a key milestone in the Marcos administration’s bid to overhaul Metro Manila’s busiest and most congested highway.
The work covered EDSA from Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City to Orense Street in Makati City.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered agencies to speed up the rehabilitation, rejecting the original timeline that would have stretched the project over two years.
The second phase will cover a longer stretch of EDSA, running from Orense in Makati City to Monumento in Caloocan City, traversing some of the busiest commercial and residential districts in Metro Manila.
Stretching 23.8 kilometers, EDSA remains the metropolis’ longest and most heavily traveled highway, cutting across six cities — Caloocan, Quezon City, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Makati and Pasay.
