Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon said the upcoming rehabilitation work on EDSA will not focus solely on motorists, as the government aims to make the capital region’s busiest highway safer for pedestrians and commuters.

Early Monday morning, May 26, Dizon joined road safety advocates Move As One Coalition in a walk along EDSA as part of a campaign for more inclusive roads and public spaces.

“It’s very important for government officials like myself to really know how it feels and experience what thousands of people experience every day,” he said in a television interview.

The DOTr chief said his most significant observation during the walk was how dangerous EDSA is for pedestrians.

“There are many areas where you could get hit by motorcycles or vehicles. You're really not safe,” he noted.

Making EDSA safe for pedestrians, he said, is the top concern of the EDSA Rebuild project, which is set to begin preparatory works on June 13.

As the first major rebuild of Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare since 1980, the government plans to replace the pavement with new concrete and asphalt.

With a total cost of approximately ₱8.7 billion, the road work is set to be done lane by lane, with additional repairs on pedestrian lanes and drainage systems.

“We are in the position now to really make EDSA walkable and safe for pedestrians,” said Dizon.

On the part of the commuting public, the secretary has assured that the EDSA Carousel will remain operational during the entire rebuild, with the bus lane keeping its exclusivity.

Additionally, the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) is set to have more trains and four-car sets to carry more passengers moving forward.

“This sends a very strong statement from the President to the commuting public that the commuters are the most important users of EDSA,” Dizon said.