The long-delayed rehabilitation of EDSA, Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare, has been pushed back to 2027, but with a significantly shorter targeted construction period of about six months, officials announced Wednesday.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan told reporters that the project was deferred due to the onset of the rainy season and the upcoming 2026 ASEAN Summit.

However, he said that changes in the construction approach will allow work to be completed faster and with minimal lane closures.

“The President has instructed us to look into what technology we can use to speed up the construction. The President does not want the lanes on EDSA to be closed for too long,” Bonoan said.

“We looked into it and we already have a recommendation that’s faster, one that won’t require us to close the lanes on EDSA,” he added.

The revised plan has been submitted for approval, with works slated to begin in 2027. Bonoan anticipates completion “within the administration” and within approximately six months.

Originally, preparatory work for the EDSA rehabilitation was set to begin on the night of 13 June 2025, with full implementation stretching through 2027.

Bonoan noted that the revised scope will also lead to “slight changes in the budget,” which he expects to be lower than the initial P15 billion estimated for the full upgrade, with P8.7 billion initially allocated for the first year alone.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. had directed concerned government agencies to revisit the rehabilitation strategy to reduce the timeline and minimize disruption to commuters.