Expressing deep concern over the hardships faced by commuters due to long travel hours, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. found the initial plan to close EDSA for two years to undergo repairs simply unacceptable.

“Two years ng pagdudusa. Hindi mo naman puwedeng gawin sa tao ‘yun,” President Marcos said in his latest podcast interview aired on Friday.

“Hindi ko matanggal-tanggal sa pag-iisip ko iyong nasa kotse ka, nasa EDSA, makikita mo alas-dose na ng gabi, ang haba pa ng pila naghihintay ng bus. Tapos pag uwi nun, gigising ng alas-kuwatro ‘yon. Maghihintay na naman ng bus para makapasok ng alas syete, alas otso. Sinasabi ko hindi puwedeng ganyan. Napakahirap na, tapos daragdagan pa natin ng kahirapan,” the President said.

President Marcos has ordered concerned government agencies to thoroughly and carefully study plans to rehabilitate EDSA as well as to mitigate the impact of the main thoroughfare’s closure.

The Chief Executive reiterated his order to make use of technological advancements to fast-track the EDSA rehabilitation.

“Siguro naman may mga bagong sistema diyan na hindi nating kailangan isara o kung ‘yung gagawin ay hindi dalawang taon. So sabi ko, itigil muna natin. Pag-isipan natin mabuti. Hanap tayo ng bagong technology. There are new technologies,” the President said.

“I am very happy with the decision. Mukhang kakayanin na hindi dalawang taon,” said the President.

On June 1, the President ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Transportation to suspend the EDSA rehabilitation project which was scheduled to begin this month.

President Marcos has stated that the EDSA rehabilitation will not commence until solid rerouting plans are in place. | PND