MANILA, Philippines — With the weather finally offering a brief window of relief after days of heavy monsoon rains and flooding, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has shifted into high gear, working overtime to repair damaged roads across Metro Manila.
But the massive repair effort comes as the agency faces renewed scrutiny over potholes that recently appeared on a newly rehabilitated section of EDSA—raising a question many motorists are asking: Are Metro Manila’s roads simply victims of extreme weather, or is there a deeper problem that needs to be fixed?
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said the DPWH is rushing repairs in several key corridors damaged by heavy rains and flooding, including E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue, the Luzon Avenue and EDSA-Santolan flyovers, Mindanao Avenue and the Quezon Avenue bridge in Quezon City. Other affected roads include M.H. Del Pilar Street in Malabon; Taft Avenue and Plaza Cervantes in Manila; Macapagal Boulevard, Roxas Boulevard and Spine Road in Pasay; C-5 Kalayaan Avenue in Taguig; and MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela.
Roads Get Emergency Repairs After Monsoon Damage
The latest round of repairs follows widespread disruptions caused by the southwest monsoon, or habagat, which brought intense rains and flooding to parts of Metro Manila in recent weeks.
Road surfaces can deteriorate rapidly when water seeps into cracks and weakens the layers beneath the pavement. Heavy traffic can then accelerate the damage, turning small defects into potholes and other road hazards.
The DPWH’s latest push is particularly important because many of the affected roads serve as major routes for commuters, public transportation and commercial traffic. Repairs on busy corridors, however, could also mean temporary traffic disruptions depending on how and when the work is carried out.
The agency has already been dealing with similar problems elsewhere in the capital. Earlier this month, DPWH crews moved to repair major potholes along Maysan Road in Valenzuela despite difficult weather conditions, underscoring the broader impact of the recent rains on Metro Manila’s road network.
Fresh EDSA Potholes Put DPWH Under the Spotlight
The urgency of the current repair campaign has been amplified by controversy surrounding potholes that emerged along a recently rehabilitated portion of the EDSA Busway in Makati.
Secretary Dizon inspected the affected area earlier this month and said trapped rainwater contributed to the damage. Reports from other major news organizations said the DPWH identified drainage issues around the busway barriers as a key concern, with Dizon ordering immediate repairs and measures to allow water to drain more effectively.
The incident nevertheless triggered calls for greater accountability. Senator Panfilo Lacson pushed for an investigation into the EDSA rehabilitation project after potholes appeared on sections that had recently undergone work, with reports citing concerns over the project’s design, engineering standards and the use of public funds.
Dizon has said he is open to an investigation. According to reports, the DPWH also moved toward more permanent repairs after the monsoon rains, while the agency maintained that the recent weather and drainage problems played a role in the road damage.
The Bigger Test: Fixing Roads—and Preventing the Next Damage
For Metro Manila motorists, the concern goes beyond seeing potholes patched. The bigger challenge is whether repairs can withstand the next round of heavy rains.
The current situation highlights the importance of drainage, construction quality, maintenance and rapid emergency response—all of which can determine how quickly a road deteriorates during extreme weather.
As DPWH crews work overtime across the National Capital Region, commuters will be watching not only how quickly the damaged roads are reopened, but also whether the repairs will last.
Because in a city where traffic can turn a short trip into hours on the road, fixing a pothole is only the first step. The real test is making sure it doesn’t come back.
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