MANILA, Philippines - The proposed plan of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for a year-long major repair of the 23.8-kilometer EDSA would still have to undergo consultation with the public and the affected local government units before it starts, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Wednesday.

DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson was earlier quoted by dzMM as saying that the rehabilitation project, with a budget of at least P3.4 billion, is now on its final stage of planning.

Singson said the DPWH is now just polishing the final details of the plan such as the vehicle re-routing and the bidding process.

He said that the rehabilitation project will involve the concrete reblocking and asphalt overlaying of certain parts of EDSA from Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City to Balintawak in Quezon City.

Singson said that in order to avoid traffic jams, the DPWH will come up with a schedule of the rehabilitation works. The reblocking will only be done during weekends, he said. Singson admitted that the project will cause traffic jams as concrete takes at least 3 days to properly cure.

The project will have three bidding packages based on three segments of EDSA, according to Singson. The first segment is from Roxas Boulevard to SM Megamall, while the second segment is from Megamall to TriNoma. The third segment is from TriNoma to Balintawak.

MMDA General Manager Corazon Jimenez said the DPWH has yet to formally present its plan to the MMDA, which has traffic management jurisdiction over EDSA.

â€œAs much as we want to have EDSA fixed, the process must pass through consultation with the public, especially the riding public and the affected LGUs,â€ said Jimenez.

â€œWe are not used to this. Magsara nga lang ang isang lane ng EDSA for re-blocking e traffic talaga ang nangyayari. Ito pa na buong EDSA ang aayusin.It will be really difficult for the riding public and the motorists. Kailangang mag-usap talaga,â€ Jimenez added.

According to Jimenez, the MMDA will elevate the issue to the Metro Manila Council (MMC), the policy-making arm of the MMDA which is composed of all the mayors of Metro Manila.

Jimenez added that even businesses in Metro Manila which rely on EDSA to move their goods will also be seriously affected by the DPWH rehabilitation plan.

EDSA starts at the north of Metro Manila from the Andres Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City and passes through Quezon City, San Juan City, Mandaluyong City, Makati City, and ends at the rotunda near the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

Jimenez said the affected LGUs should be consulted on where traffic which will be displaced from EDSA because of the repair, will be diverted.

â€œWe need to consult them on where traffic will be diverted. There are many alternate routes with 15 bridges crossing the Pasig River,â€ she said.

Jimenez said the DPWH could have just floated the EDSA rehabilitation plan which could still be modified through consultation with the MMDA and the affected LGUs.

â€œThis project needs participative discussion,â€ she said.

According to Jimenez, the DPWH, the MMDA and the LGUs have always been in coordination on big infrastructure projects related to traffic in Metro Manila such as the Araneta Avenue-Quezon Boulevard Underpass project and the Skyway project.