ADB approves $123 million loan for EDSA Greenways

MANILA, Philippines — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $123-million loan (around P6 billion) for the EDSA Greenways Project of elevated walkways for pedestrians along Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare.

Five kilometers of covered walkways measuring five meters wide will be linked to mass transit stations along EDSA, specifically in Cubao, Guadalupe, and Taft where foot traffic is heaviest.

The structures will be equipped with elevators, making it also accessible for the elderly, pregnant women, young children, and people with disabilities.

“The EDSA Greenways Project is an integral part of the government’s transport strategy to make Metro Manila a better place to live, work and visit,” said ADB’s Southeast Asia transport and communications director Hiroaki Yamaguchi.

“This project is an important part of our contribution to helping make that vision a reality for Filipinos.”

The EDSA Greenways Project, which costs around P8.51 billion, is a priority under the government’s ambitious infrastructure development program.

ADB senior transport specialist for Southeast Asia Shuji Kimura said the project complements other ADB projects in the country meant to encourage the shift from the use of private vehicles to public transport.

These other projects are the North–South Commuter Railway, the Metro Manila Subway, and the upgraded Light Rail and Metro Rail Transit systems.

“The project, to be built with cutting-edge technology for cantilever overhead walkways, will provide safe, inclusive, and equitable access for commuters while lowering CO2 emissions,” Kimura said.

Metro Manila is the most congested city in Asia in terms of population, land area and length of road networks.

Annual average daily traffic on EDSA reached 405,882 vehicles in 2019, up by about six percent from 383,828 in 2018.

ADB said the project would also help in Metro Manila’s economic recovery from the pandemic as it would create jobs. Some P3 billion ($61 million will be spent on local raw materials.

The civil works contracts for the project, meanwhile, are expected to be awarded during the first half of 2021.

ADB said the construction of the elevated walkways would cause minimal disruption to traffic. The project is expected to be operational by the end of 2021.

Other than the loan extended by the ADB, the project will also be supported by a $15-million loan (around P721 million) from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Catalytic Green Finance Facility, which will be administered by the ADB.