Concerns have been raised about an upcoming marathon that will take place along parts of EDSA on Independence Day.
The Runrio Manila Marathon will hold a 42-kilometer race along the metro’s major highway on June 12, starting from SM Mall of Asia and ending at SM North EDSA. It will cover both northbound and southbound lanes.
The marathon will be held from 11:30 p.m., with reports that it could run for up to eight hours and that road closures could last until 7:30 a.m. the next day.
The EDSA Busway will be temporarily used for the route, although the EDSA Bus Carousel will continue to operate at the outermost lane beside the sidewalk.
Reports also said that tunnels and flyovers will be temporary closed as runners pass through. They will be reopened once the last runner has cleared each section.
There will likewise be a buffer lane beside the racing route to separate runners from vehicles that will ply EDSA.
The route is as follows:
- Seaside Boulevard
- J.W. Diokno Boulevard
- Seaside Boulevard
- Marina Way
- J.W. Diokno Boulevard
- SM Mall of Asia Globe
- EDSA Bus Lane (northbound)
- SM City North EDSA to EDSA Bus Lane (southbound)
- SM Mall of Asia Globe
- J.W. Diokno Boulevard
- Marina Way
- Seaside Boulevard
The proposal to use EDSA as the running route was the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) idea, which it said is an opportunity to elevate Manila as a race and tourism destination.
MMDA Chairman Don Artes cited the Tokyo Marathon as an example, saying that it also closes roads during the event.
The Tokyo Marathon is an annual sporting event in Japan’s capital and is one of the seven World Marathon Majors, a championship-style competition for marathon runners.
Artes assured the public that the running event in the metro will be on a “holiday.” June 12 is Independence Day, a regular national holiday.
“With proper management and advisory, I think we can do it. One lane lang naman,” he said in an interview.
Rerouting schemes will be in place at known choke points such as the Magallanes Interchange, Roxas Boulevard and Macapagal Boulevard.
The MMDA said motorists may take perpendicular roads or use the “Mabuhay Lane.”
Meanwhile, the idea of turning EDSA into a running route failed to impress some Filipinos, who questioned why the busy thoroughfare would be used for the even, given the metro’s perennial traffic.
“Syempre may preparations ‘yan the night before, kaya asahan niyo na magta-traffic. Good luck. Iwasan na Edsa ng June 11, 12,” a Facebook user commented.
“Laking tulong ‘yan sa traffic!” another wrote.
“I don’t understand bakit pinapayagan pa ang mga ganitong event on major thoroughfares, considering the traffic conditions in Metro Manila. Pwede naman ito gawin sa Rizal Coliseum at mag-iikot sila ng ilang laps until ma-reach nila ‘yung required distance,” a different Pinoy wrote.
“Kahit pa midnight ‘yan, EDSA is always busy. Ang bobo talaga nag-isip nito, EDSA pa talaga!!! Perwisyo, hahaha,” another commented.
“Maaga na naman isasara mga kalye, malalang traffic ‘to,” a different Pinoy wrote.
“Laking perwisyo ang gagawin niyong ‘yan, kawawa na naman ang mga commuters ng EDSA, bakit diyan pa kayo magpa-marathon,” another commented.
EDSA is one of the busiest thoroughfares in Metro Manila, passing through several cities of the capital region. As such, it suffers from regular vehicle congestion, especially during the morning and evening rush hours.
As of December 2025, the MMDA said that an average of 3.6 million vehicles pass through Metro Manila roads daily.
