President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the suspension of the scheduled rehabilitation of EDSA, citing the need for more time to ensure the project's efficiency and to minimize disruptions to the public.

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“We’ve identified new technologies that weren’t previously considered in the EDSA rehab plans. Because of that, I instructed Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon and Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan to put the project on hold,” President Marcos said.

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The President emphasized the need for a month-long review of alternative strategies but stopped short of providing a revised timeline for the much-anticipated EDSA Rebuild.

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While he acknowledged the necessity of rehabilitating EDSA, Marcos noted that the current cost-benefit analysis does not justify moving forward just yet.

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“There are simply too many trade-offs—it’s too costly, and traffic would get even worse. So let’s pause this for now,” he added.

He also revealed that the government will work on a revised proposal aimed at reducing the project’s timeline from the original three years to between six months and a year, while exploring less disruptive approaches.

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Following the President’s directive, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced the suspension of the odd-even traffic scheme, which was originally set to begin on June 13 as part of efforts to manage congestion during the rehabilitation.

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Instead, the MMDA will continue enforcing the current number coding system. MMDA Chairman Atty. Don Artes said the suspension presents an opportunity to refine traffic mitigation strategies for the future implementation of the project.

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“In line with the President’s order, we are putting the odd-even scheme on hold. It was intended to ease EDSA congestion ahead of the rehabilitation,” Artes said. “This postponement gives us time to explore less burdensome traffic management alternatives for motorists and commuters alike.”

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Meanwhile, Senator Grace Poe welcomed the decision to postpone the project, calling it a “sensible” move.

“Without sufficient preparation, closing even a portion of EDSA would have led to chaos, worsening the daily ordeal of commuters and motorists,” said Poe, who previously chaired the Senate Committee on Public Services.

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She urged the government to use the delay to craft a comprehensive traffic management plan and recommended phased construction and 24/7 work schedules to expedite the process and reduce public inconvenience.