EDSA Rehab: Once more with feeling

When the long-awaited rehab of EDSA was announced, it was inevitable that it would encounter rough sailing. That somehow, objections and criticism would pop up to hinder its fruition.

- MAP INSIGHTS EDGARDO C. AMISTAD

True enough, protestations poured in, causing the rehab to be put on hold for a month, then for seven more months, and most likely it will end up being shelved completely.

The closer the schedule of the reconstruction gets to the next election, the higher the possibility that it would stall. By then, it would have become an election issue rather than a feather in the Administration’s cap.

Why were the critics’ reactions predictable? Because it’s human nature to abhor inconvenience and misery. And the EDSA rehab would generate tons of both. Man’s natural tendency is to deflect distress in whatever way possible.

That is not to say the critics’ dissent was baseless, but they seemed to miss the point or the rationale for such a bold and necessary endeavor.

For objectivity’s sake, let us review and take stock of the major arguments against the proposed project.

The most telling objection is that it would give rise to a nightmarish “carmageddon.” Heavy traffic would worsen due to the reduction of road space along EDSA during the repair.

But aren't we already in such a state? The horrendous traffic is now a daily occurrence; the EDSA rehab would exacerbate the situation, but what choice do we have? If we delay it, Metro Manila (MM) residents would inevitably buy more vehicles, thereby multiplying our traffic woes. Carrying out the rehab then would become doubly difficult.

The best solution would have been executing it 20 years ago. ‘Too bad that option was not heeded and is no longer available. The next best thing is to do it now. The longer we postpone the rehab, the harder it would be to tackle. Unless we are already resigned to having the worst main thoroughfare in the region in terms of appearance, maintenance, and usefulness.