President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced on Sunday that the long-awaited rehabilitation of the 23.8-kilometer Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) will not proceed until comprehensive rerouting plans are established and local government units (LGUs) are fully prepared to manage the expected disruptions.
“Hangga’t wala akong nakikitang solid na mga rerouting plans at masiguro na handang handa na ang mga LGUs, huwag muna natin gawin. Ayusin muna natin ang plano (Until I see solid rerouting plans and LGUs are fully ready, we shouldn’t proceed. Let’s fix the plan first),” Marcos stated in his vlog.
The EDSA rehabilitation is a flagship project under the administration’s infrastructure program, aimed at overhauling one of Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares. Concerns over traffic gridlock and local capacity to manage rerouting have plagued the project. Originally set to begin on June 13, Marcos postponed the start date by a month to allow concerned agencies time to explore new strategies that could shorten the project duration and minimize public inconvenience.
In his vlog, Marcos also highlighted improvements made by the administration in transportation, peace and order, and food security.
MRT-3 Improvements
The President pointed out recent enhancements in the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3), including the newly launched 1+3 Family Fare promo and increased operational speed. “Kung mapapansin niyo sa mga MRT stations natin, bumilis na ang andar ng pila. Kung minsan nga ay wala ng pila (You may notice the lines at MRT stations are faster. Sometimes there are no lines at all),” he remarked.
He assured the public that further enhancements are forthcoming, stating, “Bubuti pa ‘yan in the coming months (It will get even better in the coming months).”
Police Presence and Emergency Hotline
Marcos reported positive feedback regarding the administration’s “Cops on the Beat” program, which aims to increase police visibility in communities. “Naging maganda naman ang feedback nito. Sabi ng mga tao ay malaki talaga ang natutulong upang sila ay maging panatag (The feedback has been good. People say it really helps them feel secure),” he noted.
Additionally, he announced that a national emergency hotline is being developed, with a potential launch as early as July. “Ginagawa na rin itong emergency hotline natin at sigurado ako in just a few weeks, baka sa Hulyo pwede na ma-launch namin itong emergency hotline (We’re setting this up as our emergency hotline and I’m confident we can launch it by July),” he shared.
Commitment to PHP20/kg Rice
Despite skepticism regarding the sustainability of the administration’s PHP20 per kilo rice initiative, Marcos remained optimistic, asserting that it can be maintained through cooperation and government support. “Marami pa rin ang nagdududa kung paano natin masusustain o patatagalin ang 20 pesos na bigas… Masusustain po natin yan basta’t nagtutulungan ang lahat (Many still doubt how we can sustain the PHP20 rice… We can do it as long as everyone works together),” he stated.
He highlighted ongoing efforts to support farmers, including the distribution of agricultural machinery and irrigation equipment.
In closing, the President reaffirmed his commitment to continue listening to the people and addressing their concerns.
