DPWH: Reblocking along Maharlika Highway to be completed before Holy Week

MANILA — Reblocking work along Maharlika Highway is expected to be completed before Holy Week, when thousands of Filipinos are expected to travel from Metro Manila to their home provinces,  the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Friday.

Speaking at a media forum, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said they aim to complete reblocking to ensure that travel will be smoother for thousands of motorists and commuters.

“Ang goal natin, together with the DILG, PNP and DOTr, by Semana Santa, walang obstruction sa Maharlika Highway para hindi mahirapan ang mga biyahero.”

Dizon clarified that the completion of the reblocking works is separate from the broader rehabilitation plan.

“Malakihang pagaayos ang kailangan dito. Hindi magagawa in months. Yung mga current na ginagawa proyekto diyan, yung mga reblocking na minsan taon ang binibiliang bago matapos. Minamadali natin lahat ng current reblocking works bago mag Semana Santa,” Dizon said.

Dizon added, procurement and bidding for the rehabilitation of the highway will begin after the Holy Week break.

He said, the agency has identified at least three sections of the highway that are considered “notoriously difficult” and in urgent need of repair.

“Ang problema sa Quezon na portion ng Maharlika ay ang Pagbilao hanggang Lopez. Mahabahaba yan. Sirang sira yan. Sa Bicol naman ang pinakasira-sirang area diyan ay part ng Camarines Sur, yung stretch ng Andaya Highway. Sa Albay naman sa may Guinobatan,” he said.

In the Visayas, Dizon said problematic portions of the highway are located in Samar, particularly the stretches from Calbayog to Catbalogan and from Catbalogan all the way to Tacloban in Leyte.

Asked about the cost of the first phase of rehabilitation, Dizon said the agency has yet to determine the amount.

“Malalaman natin by the end of March kung magkano ang pondo para sa tatlong areas na yun na notoriously bad.”

According to the DPWH, about 700 kilometers of the country’s main highway backbone require immediate rehabilitation.

The Maharlika Highway, considered one of the earliest major highway systems in Asia, stretches more than 3,000 kilometers from Ilocos Norte in Luzon to Zamboanga City in Mindanao.

The DPWH chief added that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the agency to carry out a large-scale rehabilitation of the country’s road network.

In February, Dizon inspected several sections of the Maharlika Highway. He is expected to conduct another round of inspections in Quezon and Bicol in the coming weeks.