Latest news with #EDSA
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
EDSA rehab not canceled despite postponement —DOTr's Dizon
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon on Tuesday clarified that the rehabilitation of the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) is not technically canceled despite its month-long postponement. Dizon made the clarification upon the interpellation of Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel during the Commission on Appointments' (CA) panel meeting to consider his ad interim appointment as chief of the Department of Transportation (DOTr). NOW: The Commission on Appointments considers the ad interim appointment of Vince Dizon as Secretary of Department of Transportation. @gmanews — Giselle Ombay (@giselleombay_) June 3, 2025 'Hindi naman po ibig sabihin canceled... Pero sabi lang talaga ng Pangulo, nakinig siya sa ating mga kababayan, for us to find a better way and a faster way,' Dizon explained. (It doesn't mean it was canceled... But the President really just said—he listened to our countrymen—for us to find a better way and a faster way.) According to DOTr secretary, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. wants to expedite the rebuilding of the major thoroughfare from two years to six months. 'When he (the President) said a better way, he essentially meant a way that would be faster para hindi masyadong mahirapan ang ating mga kababayang dumadaan sa EDSA [so that it will not cause too much trouble to our countrymen passing EDSA],' he added. The Department of Public Works and Highways is the lead agency in the EDSA rehabilitation, which was supposed to begin on June 13. Marcos announced on Sunday the postponement of the project, saying it needs to be studied for one month to know if there are new technologies that can be used to hasten the rehabilitation of the 23.8-kilometer road. The estimated budget for the EDSA rehabilitation which aims to modernize the major thoroughfare and make it flood-free is P8.7 billion, until the end of 2026. Dizon said that by 2027, the DPWH estimated that the budget would total to P15 billion. 'Advanced stages na ng procurement, meron na atang mga natapos na ang procurement pero alinsunod dito sa utos ng ating Pangulo na i-pause muna at maghanap ng mas maganda at mas mabilis na paraan, eh baka kailangan is mag-adjust ang DPWH dito. But again I have to defer to DPWH on this,' he said. (I think the procurement is already in advanced stages, some of the procurements have already been completed. But according to our President's order to suspend the project and find a better and faster way, the DPWH may need to adjust also. But again I have to defer to DPWH on this.) The EDSA rehabilitation was supposed to pave the way for the 24-hour odd-even scheme and the waiving of toll in parts of Skyway Stage 3, among other interventions. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Automotive
- GMA Network
NCAP will remain amid postponement of EDSA rebuild —DOTr
The No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) will remain amid the postponement of the EDSA rehabilitation, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said Monday. 'I think so, I think so. I think NCAP will stay because NCAP is not just about EDSA. It's about enforcing— a more efficient way of enforcing our traffic rules,' Dizon said in a press briefing. Over the weekend, President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. announced the postponement of the rehabilitation, which was supposed to begin on June 13. Marcos said the project needs to be studied for one month to know if there are new technologies that can be used to hasten the rehabilitation of the 23.8-kilometer road. 'I want to do this faster, 'yun ang sinabi po ng pangulo. Gusto niyang mas mabilis. Ang sabi nga niya kung kayang anim na buwan lang,' Dizon said. (The president said he wants to do this faster. He even said, if it can be done in just six months.) The Department of Transportation previously said heavy traffic is expected once the EDSA rehabilitation begins. It was expected to last until 2027. 'I think this shows the President's resolve in not only rebuilding EDSA but in making sure that the inconvenience to the motoring public and to the commuters is minimized using the most advanced technology that is out there,' Dizon added. NCAP was resumed after the Supreme Court partially lifted the temporary restraining order against the policy, allowing only the MMDA to implement it. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
7 days ago
- Automotive
- GMA Network
DOLE urges employers to allow work-from-home setup amid EDSA rehab
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Friday suggested that employers consider adopting alternative work setups, such as working from home, as many workers will be affected by the rehabilitation of EDSA next month. According to Joseph Morong's report in '24 Oras' on Friday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said EDSA is home to many business establishments, with nearly 50 malls on the stretch. 'Mutually beneficial po. Hindi po makakapinsila sa pagpapatuloy ng negosyo, pero matiyak din po na hindi rin mapipinsila ang ating mga mangagawa,' said DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma during an inter-agency meeting. (This will be mutually beneficial. It will not affect the businesses and at the same time we can make sure that workers will not be inconvenienced.) The Pasay and Guadalupe portions will be the first to be affected by the first wave of the rebuilding program that will begin on June 13. For its part, the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) said that alternative work arrangements may not be effective for some. 'Sana pabayaan yung mga kumpanya at yung mga tao nila na mag-usap, diskartehan nila, kanya-kanya,' said ECOP president Sergio Ortiz. (Let's leave it to the companies and their employees to decide on that.) ECOP also sought incentives for business establishments that would implement alternative work setups. The government earlier said that the rehabilitation on the major thoroughfare will go on full blast by July or August. Department of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said that the DOTr will check if the odd-even coding scheme to be implemented during the rehabilitation period would be effective. The said vehicular scheme will have a dry run on June 16. On the other hand, transport groups said that the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) should have been implemented after the rehabilitation. Motorcycle taxi riders are complaining that the NCAP implementation has made their daily rides difficult. 'Mayroong reklamo sa akin na 'Sir, baka wedeng pakibilisan?' Sabi ko, 'Hindi tayo pwedeng dumaan diyan sa bike lane kasi bawal,'' said motorcycle taxi operator Paul Rosales. (Someone complained to me if I can go faster. I told him that we cannot use the bike lane.) 'Maganda ang layunin ng motorcycle lane, ang problema yung kalsada doon baku-bako,' said Kagulong Secretary General Don Pangan. (Motorcycle lanes are beneficial, however, the roads there are rough.) –Vince Angelo Ferreras/NB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
28-05-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
MPTC coordinating with DOTr for NLEX Connector toll holiday during EDSA rehab
Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) is now in discussion with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to implement a toll holiday at the eight-kilometer NLEX Connector. 'We are currently coordinating with DOTr,' MPTC president Jose Ma. Lim told GMA News Online. Lim was asked to confirm if MPTC is waiving toll at its NLEX Connector elevated expressway. Business tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan on Tuesday expressed intent to follow the lead of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) on imposing toll holiday in portions of Skyway Stage 3 while EDSA is undergoing a two-year rehabilitation. 'I think we also have a connector. Maybe we should do the same thing. I have to talk to our tollways to follow San Miguel's lead," Pangilinan said, referring to NLEX Connector. NLEX Connector is an eight-kilometer all-elevated highway built along the right of way of the Philippine National Railway (PNR), extending the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) from the end of its Harbor Link Segment 10 in C3/5th Avenue, Caloocan City, to Ramon Magsaysay Avenue in Sta. Mesa, Manila. Pangilinan's pronouncement came after Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said SMC will waive toll fees in select areas of the Skyway Stage 3 where vehicles will be detoured while the EDSA rehabilitation is ongoing, starting July or August. This will be implemented alongside a 24-hour odd-even number coding scheme limited to EDSA, with the dry run expected to start on June 16, and last for a month. The EDSA rehabilitation is projected to last until 2027, with the preparatory works set to begin on the evening of June 13, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The government is also looking at deploying an additional 100 buses along the EDSA Busway, and additional car train sets on the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) during the period. Apart from NLEX and NLEX Connector, MPTC also operates the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX), the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX). —AOL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- GMA Network
MMDA releases list of alternative routes ahead of EDSA rehab
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday released a list of alternative routes ahead of the EDSA Rebuild Project set to start on June 13. In a Facebook post, the MMDA said the public may use the seven northbound and 15 southbound routes. It also urged the motorists to utilize the Mabuhay Lanes. Earlier, the MMDA announced the implementation of odd-even coding scheme on EDSA to mitigate the anticipated traffic amid the road repairs. The dry run for the odd-even number scheme will start on June 16 and will last for a month. It may be further extended, MMDA said. The EDSA rehabilitation project will be conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in preparation for the upcoming Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit to be hosted by the Philippines in 2026. Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon clarified that the EDSA Busway will continue operations during the rehabilitation project. 'Hindi po magsasara ang EDSA Busway kahit nire-rehab ang EDSA,' Dizon said. (The EDSA Busway will not be closed even during the rehabilitation of EDSA.) "Kunwari may ginagawang portion ng EDSA, meron lang pong portion na siguro lalabas pero babalik din sa mga portion na hindi pa ginagawa o tapos na," he added. (If a portion of EDSA is undergoing roadwork, buses would most likely use the regular lane and then return to busway where there is still no roadwork or where the roadwork is already finished.) However, proposals to use the busway for emergencies are still under discussion. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/AOL, GMA Integrated News
