📋 Tender Overview
MORE FUND SUPPORT. A portion of a highway in Calbayog City leading to Northern Samar in this undated photo. The Department of Public Works and Highways on Friday (July 18 2025) said upon the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. more funds have been poured into the repair of damaged sections of the Pan-Philippine Highway in Eastern Visayas including the bumpy roads in Samar province. (Photo courtesy of DPWH Region 8)
TACLOBAN CITY – More funds have been poured into the repair of damaged road sections of Pan-Philippine Highway in Eastern Visayas including the bumpy roads in Samar province heeding the directive of President R. Marcos Jr. the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Friday.
Records show that some PHP6.59 billion have been allocated under the 2025 General Appropriations Act for the rehabilitation of the damaged sections of the major road also known as Maharlika Highway from Northern Samar to Southern Leyte.
This is the second year that the regions major highway got a higher outlay. In 2024 the 395.52-km. segment of Maharlika Highway in Eastern Visayas got PHP8.05 billion.
A big chunk of the budget is intended for Samar province since many portions badly need rehabilitation according to DPWH Eastern Visayas Director Edgar Tabacon.
The entire Maharlika Highway including component bridges from Luzon to Mindanao is due for rehabilitation through foreign funding but we cannot wait for that. We have included the repair of our Maharlika Highway in our regular budget since last year Tabacon said.
Of the total allocation this year some PHP3.6 billion is meant for Samar province with 80 projects PHP1.14 billion for Leyte (18 projects) PHP808 million for Southern Leyte (16 projects) PHP758 million for Northern Samar (seven projects) and PHP292 million for the portion of the major highway in Tacloban City (four projects).
This year’s allocation will finance 125 projects including road reconstruction road and bridge widening slope protection off-carriageway improvements drainage systems and installation of road signs and pavement markings.
The majority of projects are in Samar province considering that of the 205 km. of the major highway in two legislative districts of Samar some 77 km. have a bad rating while 39 km. got a poor rating based on recent assessments.
Tabacon said sections with poor ratings need total reconstruction.
During his visit to Calbayog City Samar on July 4 2024 Marcos ensured the immediate repair of damaged sections of the primary highway in Samar province through a higher budget.
The DPWH earlier said that to fully rehabilitate the road stretch from Northern Samar to Southern Leyte it needs PHP29.75 billion including the PHP8.05 billion allotted in 2024 and the PHP6.59 billion set aside this year. (PNA)
