Magallanes flyover repair after Holy Week only, MMDA says

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Wednesday failed to convince the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to allow it to repair and retrofit the Magallanes Interchange (flyover) this Saturday.

MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said it is better if the repair of the interchange is done after the Holy Week when the DPWH will also be doing a round-the-clock major reblocking of EDSA. The MMDA calls it the "ultimate EDSA reblocking."

"Wala pa final decision (on the date of the repair of the Magallanes Interchnage) dahil ang sinasabi ko dun ay after Holy Week na dahil kasi baka magpang abot yung sa ultimate EDSA reblocking," said Tolentino.

The DPWH is pressing the MMDA to allow it to repair some cracks on the Magallanes Interchange starting this Saturday with the work hours from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

But the MMDA will not budge and insists that the repair be done after the Holy Week.

DPWH-NCR director Reynaldo Tagudando told reporters Wednesday that the last retrofit of the Magallanes Interchange was done in the 1980s.

Tagudando said there is damage on the carriageways, disintegration of concrete and damage on the guide rails and steel expansion joints of the interchange.

All of these need immediate repair, said Tagudando, as these place the safety of the motorists using them at risk.

Tolentino said the MMDA is aware of the immediate need to have the Magallanes Interchange repaired. However, he said that the repairs be done after the Holy Week and not this Saturday.

"We acknowledge that. Yun lang sequencing. aso after Holy Week tuloy na yun so kung ituloy sa Sabado wala ng daanan wala ding alternate. Kung mag C5 ka, malayo," he said.