Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said he will meet with the country’s top contractors next month as the government prepares to open the bidding for the rehabilitation of the Maharlika Highway.
Dizon said many large contractors, including those that previously worked only with the private sector, have expressed interest in joining the project. He described this as a sign of growing trust in the agency’s reforms.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) plans to hire established and well-known contractors instead of smaller firms to handle the rehabilitation of what Dizon called the country’s “economic backbone.” The agency has also tapped foreign consultants to ensure the project meets international standards.
Also known as the Pan-Philippine Highway, the Maharlika Highway stretches more than 3,500 kilometers, linking Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. It serves as the country’s main transport and logistics corridor.
The government will prioritize critical sections in Quezon province and the Bicol Region. Officials said upgrading these areas will improve regional connectivity, strengthen economic activity, and support trade and tourism.
Meanwhile, Dizon reported that rehabilitation work on EDSA Phase 1 is nearly 50 percent complete and remains on track for completion by July. He said the project could be finished as early as May if sidewalk works are excluded.
Phase 1 covers the stretch from Roxas Boulevard to EDSA-Orense. Procurement preparations for Phase 2, which will cover Orense to Cubao, are in the final stages. An inspection is planned before the end of the month.
The EDSA rehabilitation, which began during the Christmas holiday period, is expected to last about eight months, with round-the-clock construction to meet deadlines. The government has allocated P6 billion for the project, significantly lower than the original P17 billion budget.
