Article by:
Sarwell Meniano
TACLOBAN CITY – Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan is optimistic that the damaged sections of Maharlika Highway in Samar province will be fixed in two years with the commitment of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon.
Tan said that based on a discussion with Dizon, she is confident the road rehabilitation will receive attention from the national government through 2026 and 2027 funding.
“The secretary promised to fix the Maharlika Highway in Samar by the end of 2027. We have been lobbying for this since 2019 due to deteriorating road conditions. We got allocations in the past, but it’s not sufficient,” Tan told the Philippine News Agency in an interview late Monday.
She said potholes along the road in Samar have been a major setback to the local tourism industry and the local economy.
About 52 percent of national roads in Eastern Visayas are in Samar province, and combining funds from two congressional districts and local government units is not sufficient to cover the cost of total rehabilitation, Tan said.
“We want to prioritize road rehabilitation, but we will not just settle for two lanes. What we aim for is complete rehabilitation and road widening,” the governor said, adding that of the 205-kilometer highway in Samar province, 33 percent is still classified as two lanes.
On Monday, Dizon and other key DPWH and local government officials boarded a passenger bus to inspect the major highway from Calbayog City to San Juanico Bridge that links Samar to Leyte Island.
Dizon said rehabilitating the Maharlika Highway is a top priority for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration, as it is used daily by millions of Filipinos.
“The order is to complete the unfinished road rehabilitation nationwide once and for all. We will not just do it fast, but do it the right way, since we want these projects to be sustainable,” he said.
In addition to road potholes, Dizon said a key issue in Samar province is the deteriorating condition of steel bridges along the main highway.
He said the DPWH will no longer hire small contractors and will instead hire top contractors to renovate the country's economic backbone.
“I spoke to them. I want to meet them, maybe this week or next week. They have expressed interest in helping with the major projects, the priorities of the President, the highest of which is the Maharlika Highway,” Dizon said during the press briefing in Calbayog City.
Rehabilitating the Maharlika Highway is a top priority for the national government, as it connects Luzon to Mindanao. (PNA)
Log in with Google