Netizens React to ₱89M Kamuning Footbridge Rehabilitation Plan
KAMUNING FOOTBRIDGE – The footbridge along EDSA is once again drawing public attention after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced plans to rehabilitate it, with a budget allocation of ₱89,129,402.57. The rehabilitation will also include the construction of a busway station.
A bidding notice was recently released by the DOTr, with a pre-bid conference scheduled for July 18, 2025, and official bidding set to begin on July 30. The selected contractor will have 180 days to complete the project.
News of the project quickly sparked mixed reactions online. Many netizens expressed surprise at the large budget, with some sarcastically asking if the footbridge would be made of stainless steel, gold, or if it would even reach the heavens. Others jokingly suggested that the budget should have been rounded up to ₱90 million to avoid “loose change.”
Some comments questioned whether the new bridge would include elevators, escalators, or even air-conditioning. A few raised concerns about possible corruption and called for greater transparency in how the funds would be used.
However, not all reactions were critical. Several netizens defended the budget, noting that it covers more than just the bridge itself. According to them, it includes the demolition of the current structure, the fabrication and installation of the new bridge, and the installation of four elevators—two on the sidewalk side and two on the carousel side. Others, with experience in government bidding, explained that public infrastructure projects often involve many components and should be reviewed carefully before concluding.
Last month, President Bongbong Marcos ordered the removal and replacement of the controversial 10-meter-high footbridge, known online as “Mt. Kamuning,” after it drew criticism for its steep design. The bridge, originally built in 2018 by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) at ₱10 million, even caught the attention of Dutch Consul General Dirk Janssen for its unusual design.