DPWH: Maharlika Highway to undergo massive rehab this year

By Ferdinand Patinio, Philippine News Agency

Public Works Sec. Vince Dizon (Department of Public Works and Highways/facebook)

MANILA – The Maharlika Highway, which connects the country’s three islands, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, will undergo massive rehabilitation costing about PHP16 billion this year, the Department of Public Works and Highways said Monday.

In a press conference, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon reported that the rehabilitation of the highway is one of the priority projects for 2026.

“The priority projects for 2026 included in the new budget are the construction of damaged bridges and roads all over the country and there is no highway, there is no road more important than the Maharlika Highway. The Maharlika Highway is from the north to the south. There are millions of our countrymen who pass by the Maharlika Highway,” he said.

He said the highway has deteriorated due to wear and tear over the years, causing inconvenience to travelers.

“For the first time, since the Maharlika Highway was built, there will be a massive rehab of the highway starting this year. When I say massive, we will fix all segments that are damaged from north to south,” he added.

Dizon said they would inspect the highway from Jan. 16 to 17 to check its current state.

“We invite the media to join in the road trip specially in the Bicol part of the highway, so we can see the real situation,” he said.

Dizon added that rehabilitation would cost at least PHP16 billion. “That’s the initial figure I saw…” he said.

Aside from the Maharlika Highway, Dizon said the rehabilitation of EDSA would continue, as the initial phase of the EDSA Rehabilitation project, particularly the bus way from Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City to Orense, Makati City, has been completed on Jan. 5.

“We are ahead of scheduled May 31 timeline. The phase 1 from Orense to Roxas Boulevard, (bus way), we were able to complete the project by January 5,” he added.

After the EDSA rehabilitation, Dizon said the C-5 Road connecting the cities of Pasig, Taguig, Quezon and Las Piñas would undergo rehabilitation next.

“The rehabilitation design (of the project) is being prepared, (the target is) within the 1st quarter of 2026,” he added.