00:00DPWH Chief Vince Dizon and DOTR Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez put themselves in the shoes of commuters and pedestrians
00:08negotiating the EDSA Ayala, EDSA Magallanes, EDSA TAF up to the EDSA Rojas Boulevard Junction entirely on foot.
00:17And they were stunned and befuddled after the three-mile or five-kilometer walk filled with challenges of single-person sidewalks,
00:24severely limited walkways, and loading and unloading zones that they are few and far between.
00:31Hence, they're steely resolved to find sure-file solutions to ease pedestrian plight along the entire pedestrian route, as our Bernard Ferrer reports.
00:41Gawin na nating pedestrian and commuter friendly ang EDSA.
00:45This is the strict directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcus Jr. to the Department of Public Works and Highways or DPWH,
00:52Department of Transportation or DOTR, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority or MMDA.
00:58In line with this, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon and DOTR Secretary Giovanni Lopez, along with the MOVAS One Coalition,
01:05conducted an inspection of EDSA southbound from EDSA Ayala to EDSA Rojas Boulevard.
01:10The two secretaries walked nearly five kilometers, taking almost two hours,
01:14to assess the current condition of pedestrian pathways, sidewalks, loading and unloading areas, and other facilities for active transport.
01:23They personally witnessed the challenges faced by pedestrians and commuters, especially persons with disabilities.
01:29Kung araw-araw mong binabaybay yung EDSA o yung mga parts ng EDSA, nakaka-stress na rin ka kung commuter ka, di ba?
01:36Ang pakiramdam ko po, isa akong mandirigma. Napakahira po, napakadelikado po ng ating mga sidewalk.
01:43At tama po, may manakita kami ni Secretary Vince, may mga imprised struktura na nakalagay na hindi namin alam kung anong layunin.
01:50They immediately ensured that the identified issues would be addressed.
01:54May January 2026, repairs and improvements to certain sections of EDSA are scheduled to begin.
02:00This includes widening sidewalks to provide safer and more accessible passage for the public.
02:05Ang problema sa EDSA, car-centric yung approach.
02:09Yun ang sinabi na rin ni Secretary Banoy.
02:13Ngayon, gagawin nating pareho.
02:17Pati yung pedestrians, kailangan, bigyan natin ng importansa.
02:20Kasi nakaimutan taga kasi ganyan.
02:22The DPWH and the OTR have committed to remain open to public suggestions as pedestrians are a top priority.
02:29And this effort is part of the country's preparations for hosting ASEAN 2026.
02:34Bernard Ferrer from the National TV Network for new and better photos.
