EDSA Braces for 24-Hour Odd-Even Scheme Amid Major Rehabilitation

Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare, EDSA, is set to implement a 24-hour odd-even number coding scheme starting June 16, 2025. This measure aims to mitigate anticipated traffic congestion as the extensive two-year “EDSA Rebuild” project commences next month.

Under the revived scheme, vehicles with license plates ending in odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) will be prohibited from using EDSA on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Conversely, those with plates ending in even numbers (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) will face restrictions on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The coding will not be in effect on Sundays.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) anticipates a significant 40% reduction in vehicular volume on EDSA due to this policy. The P8.7-billion rehabilitation project, which will initially focus on the Pasay to Guadalupe section, is expected to cause considerable public inconvenience.

To ease the burden on commuters, several exemptions and alternative measures are being put in place. Electric and hybrid vehicles, along with transport network vehicle services such as Grab, Angkas, and JoyRide, will be exempt from the odd-even scheme. Additionally, portions of the Skyway Stage 3 will be toll-free in July to serve as an alternative route.

Before the full implementation, authorities will conduct a one-week dry run during which they will only issue warnings to violators. The MMDA is also planning to deploy 100 additional EDSA Carousel buses and increase train frequency on the Metro Rail Transit Line 3. Provincial buses and trucks carrying perishable goods and aviation fuel will have a limited window to use EDSA, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. The EDSA Rebuild project is slated for completion in 2027.