Although it was initially designed to ease travel within Metro Manila, Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) is known for perennial congestion, especially during rush hours.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) confirmed on Friday (June 26) the postponement of a test run of the proposed Bayanihan sa Daan road sharing scheme, which was initially set to happen on Sunday (June 28).

“Nothing’s going to happen on Sunday, officially. The Traffic Management Committee of the MMDA recommended a deferral of the activity to a later date for several reasons, which I concurred,” MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino told CNN Philippines in a phone interview.

Tolentino said the test run will be moved to a later date mainly because of an ongoing reblocking activity along EDSA.

The said EDSA reblocking started Friday evening and will affect the northbound lane in three key areas along EDSA from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. until Monday (June 29).

Aside from the current reblocking works, Tolentino also cited the following reasons for the dry run’s postponement:

A fun run activity within the Mall of Asia area, the supposed starting point of the test run, which was scheduled on the same day

Several weekend mall sales along EDSA

To be able to carry out wider information dissemination for the activity

To allocate more resources and ensure better coordination with the private sector

Tolentino added that his office must again meet with Bayanihan sa Daan organizers and proponents so that they could reschedule the road sharing scheme’s test run.

According to Atty. Antonio Oposa Jr. of the Bayanihan sa Daan movement, half of EDSA should be dedicated to pedestrians and bikers. While the other two lanes should be for buses and public utility vehicles, one lane shall be assigned to private vehicles.

Other announcements

The MMDA chairman, meanwhile, reminded the public that his office has already issued a traffic advisory for the start of the Congressional Bridge construction on Monday. He also reiterated that the metrowide earthquake drill scheduled on July 30 will push through.

Read: MMDA confirms metrowide quake drill on July 30