TO help ease congestion during the EDSA rehabilitation, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is proposing the temporary suspension of toll collection in parts of the Skyway Stage 3, a move that could impact revenues of toll operator San Miguel Corporation (SMC).
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon on Monday said Skyway Stage 3 remains the “best alternative” to EDSA and that the government is coordinating with the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to waive toll fees on key segments of the elevated expressway once construction goes “full blast” by July or August.
The toll-free arrangement will form part of the government’s broader traffic management strategy during the major roadworks. Dizon noted that the TRB is studying how to give SMC “some reprieve” for the expected revenue losses due to the temporary toll suspension.
As of Monday, the specific sections of the Skyway that will be covered by the free toll initiative have yet to be finalized.
The EDSA rehab project is scheduled to begin on June 13, with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) leading the preparatory work. Excavation and full-scale construction are expected to follow about two weeks later.
To manage the expected traffic buildup, the DOTr also announced an odd-even vehicle scheme and plans to increase public transport options.
The proposed odd-even scheme, which will undergo a one-week dry run starting June 16, will exempt Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) and apply as follows:
Plates ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, 9: No entry on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
Plates ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, 8: No entry on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
Sundays: All vehicles allowed
The DOTr is also eyeing the deployment of 100 additional buses on the EDSA Busway and the increase of MRT-3 train frequency during the rehabilitation period. A shared lane for motorcycles and bicycles is also under consideration.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said that trucks and buses will be allowed along EDSA only between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. during the construction phase.
EDSA, Metro Manila’s busiest highway, currently serves over 464,000 vehicles daily, far exceeding its designed capacity of 250,000, according to 2024 MMDA data.