DOTr to Add 100-200 More Buses on EDSA Busway

(SPOT.ph) Rehabilitation, rebuilding, renovation—whatever you want to call it, EDSA’s major repair work is finally happening on June 13. In anticipation of the traffic nightmare that is expected to follow, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is rolling out an additional 100 to 200 buses along the EDSA Carousel.

According to DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon, nearly 100 new buses have already been deployed, with more on the way. 

“Nagdagdag na tayo ng halos 100 sa busway. May plano pa tayong magdagdag ng 100, 200 pa in the coming months para mag-provide ng alternative sa ating mga kababayan para hindi na sila kailangang magsasakyan muna,” Dizon told Teleradyo Serbiyso on May 21.

So yes, the EDSA Carousel will stay operational throughout the rehabilitation, but depending on where repairs are happening, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said buses might need to share lanes with private vehicles or move to nearby lanes to keep things moving.

The first quarter of 2025 saw nearly 16 million passengers on the EDSA Bus Carousel—a 36% jump from the same time last year. That’s approximately 177,000 commuters per day.

Also read: Full Stretch of EDSA Will Be Rehabilitated This Year—Here's What We Know So Far

Other preparations for the EDSA rehabilitation

There could be good news for train commuters, too.

Dizon said the DOTr is looking to extend morning train hours by 30 minutes to one hour—the same move he made in March when he ordered MRT-3 to extend its weekday operations at night (last trains now run until 10:30 p.m. at North Avenue Station and 11:09 p.m. at Taft Avenue Station). Additional trains have also been deployed in the MRT-3 to accommodate more passengers during rush hour.

For private vehicles and everyone else hitting the road, more adjustments are coming as the DOTr, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and DPWH work to finalize a traffic management plan for EDSA. Among the ideas being floated is rerouting vehicles through alternate roads like Skyway Stage 3, with waived toll fees on selected segments. Dizon is already in talks with the Toll Regulatory Board and San Miguel Corporation, the Skyway's operator, to make this happen.

Just so we’re clear: EDSA isn’t getting shut down all at once. The DPWH has previously clarified that the rehabilitation will be done one lane at a time, starting with the innermost bus lane. From there, construction will move outward lane by lane until all sections are covered. A detailed schedule from DPWH showing when and where work will take place is expected in the coming weeks.

The project is expected to take one to two years to complete, as per Dizon. However, government officials are hoping to speed up the repairs in time for the Philippines’ hosting of the ASEAN Summit in 2026.

“Hindo po namin mamaliitin ang mangyayaring ito. Mabigat po ito para sa ating lahat. Kailangan na nating gawin ito, hindi na puwede ang patsi-patsi,” Dizon said.

Also read: EDSA Rehabilitation Will Start With Bus Lane Closure