Gatchalian said the government should consider encouraging some businesses to consider the benefits of the “Work From Home” law or the Telecommuting Act (Republic Act No. 11165) when the rehabilitation of the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) starts in June.

The senator said that while he sees the rehabilitation of the major road a necessity, the government can apply interventions such as this to ease the potential concerns and burden of motorists and commuters. 

“Complementary interventions such as work-from-home arrangements or flexible working setup should be considered by public and private organizations alike to decongest roads and minimize public inconvenience,”  he added.

The lawmaker also backed the proposed temporary free use of toll roads as another traffic intervention while the EDSA rehabilitation is ongoing.

“The temporary free use of toll roads—such as Skyway Stage 3 and the NLEX Connector Road—while the EDSA rehabilitation is ongoing, could offer much-needed relief to motorists and commuters directly affected by the construction,” he said.

“With proper planning and strong public awareness, this measure can encourage drivers and transport operators to use lesser-known routes, distributing traffic more evenly across Metro Manila’s road network,” the senator said. 

Moreover, key government agencies should also ensure that emergency vehicles won’t be delayed in responding to the needs of citizens while the major road rehabilitation is underway.

“Although the project will cause inconvenience, we look forward to the benefits that will come from it: smoother, faster, and safer travel for millions of Filipinos,” Gatchalian said.

The senator stressed that proper coordination between the national government and local government units (LGUs) is critical during the EDSA rehabilitaiton. 

“The rehabilitation of EDSA is not just a necessary infrastructure project, it is also a call for collective action and adaptability,” Gatchalian said.

“Any project will not be successful without strong and continuous coordination between the national government, LGUs, and toll road operators,” he pointed out.