Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon said on Monday disclosed that they will be asking for a permit from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as they intend to go 24/7 of the rehabibilitation work of the 24-kilometer EDSA during the Holy Week.

“During Holy week, we will ask the MMDA a permit to continue with our work 24/7 to fast-track the rehab works,” said Dizon, adding that the moment, rehabilitation works in already in the advance stage and they may finish the work early.

“We are in the advance stage and maybe by May, we can rehabilitate the sidewalks,” Dizon said.

This comes as the DPWH chief revealed that Phase 1 of the rehabilitation of Edsa, Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare, is targeted for completion in July.

The Phase 1 of the rehabilitation works of Edsa covering Roxas Boulevard to Orense, is already nearly 50 percent complete.

Dizon said that by July 2026 the Phase 1 of the rehab works that include sidewalks, will be completed and sections without sidewalks is expected to be finished in May.

On 24 December 2025, the Edsa rehabilitation began with all reblocking work and asphalt overlay of busway lanes conducted 24 hours a day until 4 a.m. on 5 January 2026 and after 5 January, road work was scheduled from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

From Monday to Friday, asphalt overlay is conducted lane by lane for both northbound and southbound traffic, while from Friday to Sunday, asphalt overlay and reblocking are carried out, one lane per direction.

Dizon said the schedule will continue until 31 May 2026, early on he said the new plan for the Edsa rehabilitation will take only eight months, shorter than the previous two-year timetable.