EDSA’s new odd-even rule is coming—Here’s what you should know

If your car ends in an odd or even number, that could soon decide when you can drive on EDSA. Starting June 13, repairs along EDSA will begin, and the government will put in place a new traffic plan to help with congestion. One of the main rules to be tested is the odd-even scheme for private cars. This means that vehicles with plate numbers ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 cannot pass through EDSA every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Plates ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 will not be allowed every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Sundays will have no restrictions. The rule will not apply to TNVS or ride-hailing vehicles like Grab. A one-week dry run of the scheme will start on June 16.

To help ease traffic, some areas of Skyway Stage 3 will be toll-free starting July or August. The government has not said yet which parts of Skyway will be free, but they said it will help give drivers another way to travel while EDSA is under repair. The Department of Transportation said Skyway is the best option for drivers who want to avoid EDSA. Talks are ongoing with the Toll Regulatory Board and San Miguel Corporation about how to manage the loss in toll income while the toll-free setup is active.

Aside from private cars, there will also be new rules for trucks and buses. The MMDA said trucks and provincial buses will only be allowed on EDSA from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. each day, and they cannot pass during the rest of the day. Motorcycles will also get their own lane, and they will not be allowed to use overpasses or underpasses. The MMDA added that they will remove the plastic separators in the bike lanes, and there are talks of sharing one lane for both bicycles and motorcycles.

The government will also assign other roads for drivers to use as alternate routes. Side streets will be cleared regularly to make sure cars do not return to park there. The MMDA warned that vehicles parked along these roads may be towed. To support commuters, the DOTr is planning to add 100 more buses to the EDSA Busway and increase the number of MRT-3 trains, especially during rush hours. These changes aim to give people more options and lessen the number of private cars on the road while the construction is ongoing.

The Department of Public Works and Highways said they will start preparation work on June 13, and full excavation is expected about two weeks after. Right now, EDSA has a daily volume of over 464,000 vehicles, based on MMDA data from 2024. That number is almost double its carrying capacity, which is around 250,000. Because of this, the government is asking drivers and commuters to plan ahead, follow the rules, and consider other routes while the roadwork is being done. This story is ongoing and will be updated once new info is available.