The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) disclosed on Wednesday that it will prioritize sections of EDSA, Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare, for rehabilitation ahead of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summits in 2026.

In a statement, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan revealed that while the entire stretch of EDSA is slated for repairs, the agency will first focus on the segments between Pasay City and the Shaw Boulevard underpass in Mandaluyong City.

This prioritizes routes expected to be used by delegates and government officials attending the ASEAN meetings.

“Our focus is in Metro Manila because the preliminary meetings will have to take place by early 2026,” Bonoan said.

“Now, our priority program, in coordination with the upcoming Asia-Pacific meetings, will be on the priority sections that we will be undertaking from Pasay to Shaw Boulevard, both southbound and northbound,” he added.

The DPWH aims to complete the rehabilitation of this priority segment by the last quarter of 2025. Following this, the agency will continue retrofitting the remaining portions of EDSA.

Bonoan acknowledged that the rehabilitation work is expected to cause traffic disruptions. He said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Transportation (DoTr) are responsible for developing rerouting and traffic management plans during the construction.

“I think, MMDA and DoTr are actually having the protocols and the traffic management plan laid out already so that they are looking at what alternate routes are available and how to actually manage the internal traffic on EDSA during the construction,” Bonoan said.

He also cited that the MMDA will mark dedicated lanes on EDSA for motorcycles, bicycles, buses, private vehicles and heavy vehicles to help manage traffic flow.

“The MMDA, if I recall correctly, is actually set to delineate the separated lanes for vehicles, including motor vehicles, as opposed to bicycles or motorcycles, lane by lane, to avoid congestion and to smoothen travel along EDSA as we carry out the rehabilitation,” Bonoan said.

The DPWH expects the rehabilitation efforts on EDSA to begin by June 2025.