PEDESTRIANS and cyclists now have a wider and safer path along the southbound stretch of EDSA near Buendia in Makati, following the completion of another section of the government’s ongoing EDSA Rehabilitation Program.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said the upgraded sidewalk forms part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to prioritize not only the rehabilitation of EDSA’s aging road infrastructure but also the expansion of sidewalks to make the country’s busiest thoroughfare safer and more accessible.Dizon said the project addresses the long-standing problem of narrow, hazardous walkways that have forced commuters, pedestrians and cyclists to navigate unsafe spaces along EDSA for years. The widened sidewalk provides more room for people on foot and on bicycles, reducing conflicts with vehicular traffic while improving accessibility for thousands of commuters who use the corridor every day. The sidewalk upgrade is one component of the broader EDSA Rehabilitation Program, which seeks to modernize the major highway by improving infrastructure to enhance mobility, road safety and the overall commuting experience. According to Dizon, additional sections of EDSA will undergo similar improvements as rehabilitation work continues across the highway in line with the administration’s goal of building safer, more inclusive and commuter-friendly transport infrastructure. Dizon said the project reflects the government’s push to transform EDSA into a road network that better serves not only motorists but also pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users who rely on the country’s busiest urban corridor every day. The two-phase rehabilitation of EDSA started in December 2025. Phase 1 has already been completed, while Phase 2 is now ongoing. The second phase covers 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. Dizon said the accelerated timetable of EDSA’s rehabilitation has dramatically reduced project costs, bringing the rehabilitation budget down to P6 billion from the original estimate of P17 billion. The resulting P11-billion savings, he said, can be redirected to other critical government infrastructure projects. Beyond road repairs, the EDSA makeover will include wider pedestrian walkways, shared bike lanes, bicycle repair stops, commuter waiting sheds and the removal of obstructions along the corridor. “If you drive along EDSA every day, it’s really stressful. The President’s order is clear: Make EDSA pedestrian-and commuter-friendly. There have been so many complaints for years, and now we are finally fixing it,” Dizon said.
