Episode 15 – Rehab ni EDSA: Real Progress or Just ASEAN Cleanup?

In this episode, the hosts dig into the timing of the EDSA rehab project—conveniently scheduled just before the ASEAN Summit.

They raise eyebrows at why major repairs only roll out when VIPs are expected, call out ineffective practices like reblocking, and slam the chronic lack of real planning.

From sleepless nights to paralyzed traffic, they ask: is this real progress, or just another PR stunt dressed up as national pride?

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Philippe: EDSA Rehabilitation. So, when does it start?

Gab: Yeah, June 16, I think.
June 16?

Philippe: Wow. Yes, June 16. It’s two and a half weeks to go from this time of this podcast.
So June 16, what are you going to rehab? The bus lane, right? You know what bus lane is, right? After that, yung bus lane, mauusog. So there’s going to be one lane na inaayos nila that they will go ahead, and then the second lane will be the bus lane. And then the third, third, and then fourth, if there is one. That’s the vehicles and motorcycles. The bike lane will be mixed with motorcycles. They’re mixed again. They’re mixed again.

Gab But I think they will prioritize the southbound first, close to the ones that are close to where the ASEAN will be held. So that’s what they’ll prioritize first, close to that.

Philippe: So why is it every time we have a big event coming up—let’s say in 2026, the ASEAN what?
It’s a certain event.

Gab: ASEAN 2026, I think.

Philippe: Yeah. Whatever that event is, because we have delegates coming in. So that’s when they will improve EDSA, right? Why not? Why didn’t they think about this even prior to all of this, right They’re not proactive, like, “Let’s fix EDSA because we should future-proof EDSA or whatever street, whatever city,” right?Why do you need to fix EDSA just because there’s an upcoming event, right?

Gab: Maybe from another point of view, EDSA Rehabilitation will come first, then ASEAN Summit in 2026.
Because I think from our PhilStar Global—sourcing it from PhilStar Global—I think the 2026 ASEAN would add complexity to the EDSA Rehabilitation. And then the EDSA would be finished by 2027. So yes, it would be difficult because we’re only doing this because there are delegates coming in from different parts of the country.

Philippe: But the question is, why are they only doing this when it comes to having delegates? I remembered, I think it was a sports event. I don’t remember what it was. It wasn’t ASEAN. It happened. It was Gilas versus a different… FIBA. When we hosted it, that’s when they were fixing the EDSA part as well. Actually, this was prior to bus lanes, prior to a lot of things. But I remember that specific event. I think it was basketball—probably FIBA.And they’re doing it again. They’re fixing EDSA because of an upcoming ASEAN Summit 2026. Very sad, right? But what’s worse is that Metro Manila will be affected. Northbound, southbound, and all that.What will happen? More traffic?I guess. Yes, more traffic.

Gab: Another question is, that new coding scheme—would it punish those owners who only have one car?
Because it would be hard for them, especially with the coding scheme.

Philippe: Right. And the coding scheme now is odd-even? Yes, odd-even. But there’s one good thing that happened. The Skyway now, from I think Caloocan up to Makati, it’s free now. By June 16, it’s already waived. So, look for traffic on Skyway.

Definitely. It’s dead. It’s gone. For sure, there will be traffic on Skyway. For sure. If you think about it, I would say it’s good as progress—but the timing is wrong. I wish they timed this during…I wish they did more in the pandemic when there was no traffic. Improvements and all. Well, I understand no contact and all that. But I think they should have done this with better timing.

So, EDSA rehab, plus new coding scheme, plus NCAP, plus a lot more. What’s next? What’s next here? Transfer of ownership?Oh, very interesting. The North to South, South to North using EDSA. But still, I think they have to consider the bus. It’s good that there’s still a bus lane. Because the bus lane alone transports, I think, 300,000 to 500,000 people daily. Right? Back and forth. So, the use of the bus is still very efficient. So, I think they should add something to it. Maybe they have to add more buses. More buses. But that’s it—it’s congested. Very congested. It’s like a train when there’s traffic. Imagine. I wish it was just a train.

Look, I’m in for progress. I’m in for the rehabilitation. But time it properly. Not time it because we have the ASEAN Summit coming up. Time it with no event. Right? Don’t make it a reason.

Oh, there’s a lot of events.

There’s one—gosh, I don’t know if people are going to hate me for this—but in SONA, Presidential SONA.
In the area of Batasan, if there’s a SONA nearby, that’s when they’ll improve the underpass, they’ll clean it up.
Right?

Because we used to live near Batasan. And if there’s a SONA, we don’t leave the house.

But prior—like a month, a few weeks before SONA—tintura. The underpass, going to Commonwealth. So in that area, they’ll trim the plants, the trees, they’ll clean it up. That’s always before the SONA. Why can’t we be proactive enough? Even if there’s no SONA, no ASEAN Summit—why don’t we just be proactive enough to just fix it?
Right? Why do we need an occation?

So I think that’s what’s happening with the EDSA rehabilitation. And until when? Until when? Rehabilitation. When will this end?

Gab: Until the year 2027. I think the specifics was not, but the government aims to complete the rehabilitation by the year 2027.

Philippe: June 16. Wow.
So more than a year?
Yes.
Less than two?
Yes.
Assuming.
If June 16, 2027.
Gosh, that’s two years.
That’s two years.
Our traffic has increased.

McClaine: And one thing I noticed regarding rehabilitation—they always do it during daytime.
Interesting. Well, to look out at night, so I don’t know, but that’s a good point. Yes, why? It’s not just in EDSA.
Back in every road, when there are road repairs—if you look at it, it’s colder to work at night. Yeah.

Philippe: There’s no traffic.

McClaine: Yes. Less congestion because people sleep.
Yes, there would be noise pollution, but noise pollution is tolerable compared to the total traffic in the area. So that’s what I notice. I live in Bulacan, so there are always road repairs in Lubacan, in Bulacan. So that’s what I notice. Why do they always do it during daytime? You’ll notice that if you’re always stuck in traffic. But if you go out at night, there’s nothing. THere’s no traffic, so there’s nothing to do.

There are bystanders or those who direct traffic if there’s an obstruction.

Philippe: I know the answer. Because if they do it at night, they have a night differential. It’s an additional payment.

McClaine: But the work is faster because it’s cold. If the work is faster, they won’t earn anything because they do it during the day, right?

McClaine: That’s the only difference.

Philippe: Okay. We’ll talk about this again.They don’t do it during the day. When it comes to a government project or anything like that, it’s already a closed contract, right? It’s a closed contract. So it’s not done during the day just like construction.

People will say, “You don’t have to do this.” But government contracts like this MRT-7, right? Even if it takes longer, it’s a project. They don’t pay it during the day. It’s a project-based type of pay. It’s not like, “Oh, it takes longer.”

But I think it’s riskier during the night. And there’s a night differential during the night. So I think it’s cheaper during the day. But you’re right. If it’s done during the night, there’s still traffic, but the work is faster. It’s more organized. Right? It’s safer.

Because there’s no… What was the thing that fell? Oh, the steel frame? The beam? In Alabang?
Right? What was that? Skyway? Before. Alabang, I remember. During the daytime. Someone died there, right? I know someone died there. A lot of people were injured, but someone died there. That’s sad.

But yeah, why not do it at night? The subway—because I go every day to Mindanao Avenue. At night, they do it. The subway, the one in Tandang Sora, Mindanao. They closed it for four years. At night. At night, I mean, I think they do it 24 hours. Because it’s a subway.

Why can’t they do that in EDSA, right?

McClaine: I think I saw that there was a petition—why not do the rehabilitation at night? Since I just mentioned it, that’s the problem here. Why can’t they work at night, especially if the need is urgent?

Philippe: They should have a 24-hour system. Because either way, even at night, there’s construction going on and lanes are blocked anyway. So why not make use of the time and implement three shifts—night, morning, and midday—so the work progresses faster? Then maybe the whole thing can be done in a year or two.

That would be more convenient. I think people would accept one year of proper construction on EDSA if it means it’ll actually improve. But it has to be quality work. Because after one year, I’m betting that by 2027—when it’s supposedly done—and give it a few more months, we’ll start seeing the same problems again. Since they do the rehabilitation one lane at a time, by the time they finish the third lane, the bus lane will already be worn out again.

You know what’s frustrating? Every year, there’s something called reblocking in EDSA. And after doing some research, it turns out we’re the only country that does this. Only the Philippines still uses reblocking. I don’t understand why. If you check out Monumento, you’ll notice they’re always reblocking. That’s why there’s even a running joke about it.

In the US, if there’s a need for rehabilitation, it takes just one week—seven days—and they’re done. In Japan, they can fix roads in one day. Meanwhile, here in the Philippines, we’re already fixing roads even before they get damaged.

We’re so proactive when it comes to reblocking—too proactive. Look it up: no other country, not even other third-world countries, still uses reblocking. They’ve already shifted to better technologies, better long-term solutions. I don’t know why we’re stuck with it. You’ll notice it in EDSA, especially northbound. Actually, both north and southbound. Some parts are asphalt, others are cement—I just don’t get it. And apparently, reblocking is such an outdated way of maintaining roads.

Just compare it to Germany. More than 10 years ago, I saw a video about their highway—the

McClaine: Autobahn.

Philippe: When it rains there, they showed how a firetruck hosed the road and the water just drained away. No floods, no puddles. They have a special kind of asphalt where water just flows straight to the drainage. Amazing, right? Imagine a firetruck hose blasting water and the road stays dry. Where does the water go? Into the proper drainage system. They really invested in that kind of technology.

Unlike here—one pothole and suddenly you’re in Bulacan. “Oh my God, welcome to Bulacan!” And it’s just, “Go ahead, no problem.” I don’t want to go down the corruption route, but still—I hope we can do better. We have so many experts in this country. And if rehab projects are really money-making ventures for the government, then fine—good for them. But at least give us real progress in return.

We do have new technology available. We should be investing in it—even if it’s expensive. Let’s say it costs ₱10 billion for modern tech and better infrastructure—fine. Even if it’s overpriced, what matters is that it works. What’s the point in investing if the roads just start leaking again after a little rain?