MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will hire only the largest and most reputable contractors to repair and rehabilitate the Maharlika Highway, the longest road network in the country, to ensure quality and speedy construction.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said on Tuesday that the decision was arrived at following the directive of the President to ensure that the rehabilitation of the Maharlika Highway is completed within two years.
"The agency will no longer hire small contractors and will instead hire well-known contractors for the renovation of the country's economic backbone," Dizon said.
"I spoke to them, I want to meet them maybe this week or next week and they have expressed interest to help out in the major projects, the priorities of the President, the highest priority of which is Daang Maharlika," he added.
Maharlika Highway, also known as the Pan-Philippine Highway, spans 3,379.73 kilometers from Aparri in Northern Luzon to Jolo in Mindanao. It is a network of roads, expressways, bridges, and ferry services that connect the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao, serving as the country's principal transport
It will be the first time that the Maharlika Highway would be repaired and since the road network was completed in the '70s.
It was estimated that about 70 percent of the road network needed repair.
"Top on our priority for 2026 is the repair of roads and bridges all over the country. There is no highway, no roads more important than the Maharlika Highways, from Aparri to Mindanao," the DPWH chief said.
