Several House of Representatives members have come out to support President Marcos' decision to suspend thhe EDSA rehabilitation project, pending a study for its more efficient implementation.
Deputy Majority Leader Quezon City 3rd district Rep. Franz Pumaren, Assistant Minority Leader 4Ps Party-list Rep. JC Abalos, and Quezon City 4th district Rep. Marvin Rillo all saw the wisdom behind the Chief Executive's move.
The 23.8-kilometer EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue) is the main thoroughfare of Metro Manila.
Pumaren noted that while EDSA is in urgent need of rehabilitation due to its aging infrastructure, persistent traffic congestion, flooding, and unsafe pedestrian conditions, the initially proposed two-year disruption posed serious concerns, especially for areas like Cubao, which lies directly along EDSA and is within his district.
“Cubao would be among the most affected by the proposed two-year disruption. This would have placed a serious burden on commuters, workers, and small businesses, not only in Quezon City, but across Metro Manila,” Pumaren stated.
He lauded President Marcos for his decisive and people-centered leadership, highlighting that the directive to suspend the project and conduct a review reflects a genuine commitment to public welfare.
“I commend President Bongbong Marcos Jr. for listening to these concerns and putting public welfare first. I fully support the President’s call for a shortened rehabilitation period of six to 12 months, which demonstrates both strong leadership and responsiveness to the needs of the Filipino people,” Pumaren said.
Abalos gave similar praise to Marcos, and said that the postponement of the rehabilitation wasn't a setback but "a chance to get things right".
"I commend President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for his decision to reassess the EDSA rehabilitation schedule and pursue a significantly shorter completion timeline," he said.
"By seeking to shorten the project timeline from two years to just six to 12 months, the President is showing a practical understanding of how prolonged construction would disrupt the lives and livelihoods of commuters and businesses alike," Abalos said.
"Studies have long shown that Metro Manila loses billions of pesos annually due to hours wasted in traffic. Every day of delay, every minute spent in gridlock, is a blow to our economy and to the well-being of our people," added the minority member.
Rillo, a member of the majority, likewise supported Malacañang's deferment of the EDSA rebuild. He the commuting public was "taken by surprise" by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority's (MMDA) announcement of it's implementation.
"I fully support President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s decision to suspend and re-evaluate the EDSA rehabilitation project before it breaks ground. Truly, it takes great leadership to recognize when we need to pause, listen, and act in a way that truly reflects the concerns of the people," Rillo said.
"With the new technologies being considered and a renewed focus on minimizing inconvenience, the President is now pushing for a faster, better alternative - one that could be completed in as little as six months to a year," he noted.
Rillo further said that the directive to review and redesign the plan within a month "shows that the government is willing to listen and is serious about delivering much-needed results, without unduly prolonging the burden on the public".
"That kind of quick and effective responsiveness is what good governance is about," said the outgoing solon.