According to Dr. John Paolo Rivera, an economist and senior research fellow at PIDS, the EDSA rehabilitation will have profound economic ripple effects: travel time will increase, productivity will decline, and revenues, particularly for businesses along the route, will drop.
The impact will not be limited to commuters and delivery riders—MSMEs, students, and employees will also feel the strain. As consumers try to avoid traffic, sales may dwindle. While demand for online delivery is expected to grow, not everyone will benefit equally.
Dr. Rivera offers the following recommendations to balance the long-term and short-term effects of the EDSA rehabilitation:
✅ Implement an adaptive traffic management system.
✅ Promote flexible arrangements for work and school.
✅ Support active transport infrastructure such as bike lanes, walkways, and other alternative transport options.
✅ Utilize data analytics to assess the project’s impact on various sectors.
✅ Facilitate convergence planning among DPWH, MMDA, DOTR, and LGUs.
✅ Establish open communication lines with the public and stakeholders to gather feedback and set realistic expectations.
✅ Conduct early consultations prior to project implementation.
Watch the full interview with Ted Failon and DJ Chacha on News5: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AenvVszqP/
