The Metro Manila Council (MMC), the policy-making body of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) composed of 17 mayors in Metro Manila, has approved the proposal of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to rehabilitate the entire 24 kilometer stretch of EDSA.

Costing an estimated P 3.4 Billion, the EDSA rehabilitation project is said to transform the often neglected road into a world-class highway with a pavement rivaling the "North Luzon Expressway and South Luzon Expressway". The project is said to start in May 2013 and will run for 24/7 to be completed in time for the East Asia World Economic Forum in June 2014. Once done, EDSA's world-class pavement will last between 5 to 10 years.

Phase 1 which will run from Pasay City to Julia Vargas Avenue in Mandaluyong City is deemed the "hardest part of the project". During construction, EDSA is expected to lose between 1.5-2 two lanes.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino hopes to hold a "mock rehab" as a dry run before construction starts in May. Tolentino hopes this will prepare the Metro Manila mayors, the MMDA, and other agencies and plan for contingencies if necessary.

Tolentino also hopes schools and businesses will cooperate with the EDSA rehabilitation project and implement "flexitime" schedules in order to reduce the traffic burden. In addition, the MMDA will coordinate in introducing alternate routes that run parallel to EDSA.

At the same time, the MMC also approved a proposed EDSA-Taft Avenue flyover which aims to ease traffic in that area. Costing an additional P 2.7 Billion, this new flyover will add two lanes each to the north and south bound directions of EDSA spanning Malibay Bridge in Makati to F.B. Harrison Street in Pasay City. This project is hoped to be completed in the same period.

UPDATE: President Aquino has decided to defer the project pending further studies. This decision was reached after a meeting with the DPWH, MMDA, and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).