The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has approved the use of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottle waste in national road construction, aiming to cut costs and reduce plastic pollution.
Signed by DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, the new Department Order introduces a standard specification—Item 310 (19)—for mixing PET waste into bituminous concrete surface courses. The approach follows the agency’s 2024 move to incorporate low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic bags into asphalt mixes.
“Turning waste into valuable resources for building better and more roads is the future of public infrastructure development in the country,” Bonoan said, highlighting the economic and environmental benefits of the initiative.
The use of plastic-enhanced asphalt is now part of the official DPWH Standard Specification for Highways, Bridges, and Airports (Volume II) and has been integrated into its Project and Contract Management Application, ensuring widespread adoption in regional and district projects nationwide.
The program supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s push for resilient and sustainable infrastructure, combining waste reduction with longer-lasting, more stable road surfaces.
