Luzon execs see hope in DPWH vow to rehab Maharlika

ROAD RISKS Rough, flood-prone stretches of the Maharlika Highway in Camarines Sur province, as seen in this photo taken on Jan. 16, highlight the need for urgent rehabilitation. Officials and motorists hope that the planned upgrades, including viaducts and flood control measures, will improve safety and boost tourism. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

LUCENA CITY—Officials and motorists in Quezon and Camarines Sur are optimistic that the long-awaited rehabilitation of the Maharlika Highway will finally be completed on time, addressing years of poor road conditions and travel difficulties.

Quezon Mayors Webster Letargo of Gumaca and Sonny Ubana II of Lopez, welcomed the planned upgrades, including the construction of a 2.5-kilometer viaduct along flood- prone areas.

“We’re hoping that the promise of [Public Works] Secretary Vince Dizon and President Marcos Jr. will be fulfilled, as travelers in Quezon have long been suffering,” Letargo said in an online interview on Monday.

Letargo noted that well-built roads could boost efficiency, expand market access and stimulate economic growth.

Ubana echoed Letargo’s optimism, saying the viaduct would prevent motorists from being stranded during heavy rains.

Fund request

In a video-recorded interview during Dizon’s inspection of the viaduct on Jan. 16, Ubana said the local government also requested funding for additional flood control measures.

Dizon personally inspected key sections of the highway covering Quezon towns from Lopez to Tagkawayan and Camarines Sur areas, including Del Gallego and Lupi.

Following the inspections, Dizon announced the suspension of ongoing repair works while a more comprehensive rehabilitation plan is finalized, as directed by Mr. Marcos.

PATCHWORK Workers patch potholes on a section of the Andaya Highway in GRS Village, Ragay, Camarines Sur, as part of ongoing road repairs. The single-lane setup is causing delays for motorists traveling between Bicol region and Metro Manila.

“The President has prioritized the full rehabilitation of the Maharlika and Andaya highways. With proper planning, funding and the support of Japanese consultants, we are confident the work can be completed within the next year and a half to two years,” Dizon said.

Public utility vehicle operators also welcomed the plan. A van driver operating the Lucena-Gumaca route described current conditions as “hard and challenging,” adding that the rehabilitation would greatly improve daily operations.

Vital route

The Maharlika Highway stretches about 150 km in Quezon, from Tiaong near the Laguna boundary to Calauag near Bicol, serving as a vital north-south route connecting Calabarzon and the Bicol region.

Bishop Eugenius Cañete of Gumaca had previously criticized the highway as the worst in the region, highlighting long-standing public dissatisfaction with road conditions.

In Bicol, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said the rehabilitation would provide a significant boost to local tourism and the economy.

DOT Bicol Director Herbie Aguas noted that improved roads would make travel smoother, safer and more convenient for motorists and tourists alike. “Tourism drives jobs and supports local businesses—from transport and hotels to restaurants and souvenir shops,” Aguas said.

Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr. noted the urgency of the project, citing structurally unsound bridges along the Andaya Highway, including the Mauca Bridge in Lupi town.

Villafuerte also criticized decades of fragmented planning and repeated reblocking that led to poor road conditions and misused public funds. He called for investigations into past Department Of Public Works And Highways projects to hold responsible parties accountable.

Dizon stressed that this rehabilitation marks the first major, fully planned overhaul of the Maharlika Highway network, which, when completed, is expected to significantly improve connectivity, safety and economic activity across Quezon and the Bicol provinces.