Skyway Toll Fees Will Be Waived During EDSA Rehabilitation
There's a catch you need to know.
(SPOT.ph) Everyone’s bracing for it: the EDSA rehabilitation that could turn Metro Manila traffic from bad to worse. But here’s a bit of good news: Skyway Stage 3 will be waiving its toll fees to help ease congestion for the 437,000 vehicles that pass through EDSA every day.
Don’t get too excited though—the toll-free Skyway access won’t apply to the entire expressway. The waiver will only cover specific segments where EDSA is directly affected by construction.
“Yung segment lang kung saan magde-detour ‘yung sasakyan para hindi na sila dadaan ng EDSA. Aakyat na lang sila sa Skyway,” Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon said in a press conference on May 26.
So when and where can we expect them? Dizon said this could start in July or August—once the construction goes “full blast.” However, no areas for the free toll have been disclosed.
Although the EDSA rehabilitation is said to start on June 13, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) clarified that this will only mark the start of preparatory activities. Excavation is expected to follow a week later. As such, Dizon said there’s no need to rush the implementation of the waiver just yet.
"Kapag nagsimula na ‘yung construction, maybe in a month or so, magsisimula na tayo mag-libreng toll sa Skyway,” Dizon said. Exact segments and timeline will be finalized soon.
The move takes its cue from the initial rollout of Skyway Stage 3, which operated toll-free for several months. During that period, vehicle volume on EDSA dropped by 7.5% to 14%. This time, the MMDA is projecting a 10% to 20% reduction in traffic once the toll waiver is implemented.
"We understand that this temporary arrangement might result in loss of income to [San Miguel Corporation], the operator of Skyway. In response, the DOTr and TRB are exploring options to grant SMC some reprieve, including possible extension of their concession agreement with the government," DOTr said in a statement.
Also read: Everything You Need to Know About the Odd-Even Scheme Along EDSA
Plans for the EDSA rehabilitation
To be clear, EDSA won’t be fully closed to motorists as work will be carried out one lane at a time, starting with the bus lane. DOTr said multiple contractors will be deployed simultaneously to speed up progress.
According to DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, the rehabilitation will focus on the southbound lane in 2025, followed by the northbound lane in 2026. Priority will also be given to sections between Guadalupe and Pasay, which are targeted for completion ahead of the ASEAN Summit that the Philippines will host in 2026.
Alongside the Skyway toll waiver, the government will roll out four other strategies to manage congestion. These include deploying 100 to 200 more buses along the EDSA Carousel, adding new MRT-3 trains and extending train hours, implementing an odd-even traffic scheme, and clearing alternate routes for rerouting.
Also read: EDSA Congestion Fees Are Under Consideration, But Will It Happen?