₱16 Billion for Maharlika Highway: Will This Time Be Different, or Repeat Decades of Budget Woes?

Posted on Jan. 31, 2026 at 7:25 pm

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon’s announcement of a ₱16 billion-plus allocation for the massive rehabilitation of the Maharlika Highway, spanning from Luzon to Mindanao, is undoubtedly welcome news for countless motorists who have endured decades of deteriorating road conditions. According to Sec. Dizon, the highway hasn’t seen a major overhaul in nearly 40 years, a shocking admission of neglect that has directly impacted the daily lives of Filipinos.

However, this announcement begs a critical question: Where was the money all those years?

For decades, politicians in regions traversed by the Maharlika Highway have boasted of allocating funds for road rehabilitation and repairs. Yet, the reality on the ground, particularly in areas like Samar, tells a vastly different story. From Northern Samar down to its southern reaches, motorists have faced persistent road problems, with stretches of the highway constantly under repair or construction, leading to endless delays and frustrations.

If funds were indeed allocated, why has the situation remained so dire for so long? Where did the money go? Was it siphoned off through corruption? Was it mismanaged due to incompetence? Was it simply spread too thin to have any meaningful impact?

Sec. Dizon’s commitment to a massive overhaul is a step in the right direction. But it also raises the specter of accountability. The people deserve answers about the decades of “budget loss” and “cursed” road projects that have plagued the Maharlika Highway.

We are not interested in empty promises. The DPWH must demonstrate a clear and transparent plan for how this ₱16 billion-plus will be used, with robust oversight mechanisms to prevent the same mistakes of the past.

The rehabilitation of the Maharlika Highway is not just about fixing roads; it’s about restoring trust in government and ensuring that public funds are used responsibly and effectively. It’s time for action, not rhetoric, and it’s time for answers about the decades of neglect that have led us to this point.