Metro Manila, Philippines – The country’s longest road network from north to south will undergo short-term repairs in time for the Lenten break targeted for completion by the end of March and a longer-term rehabilitation after that, Public Works Secretary Dizon said on Monday, Feb. 16.

He told a media briefing that the near-term repairs would require “temporary patchworks” particularly in the Quezon, Bicol, and Samar segments.

“Wala nang obstruction, wala nang ongoing construction,” said Dizon, referring to what is expected before travelers trek to the provinces for the Holy Week.

[Translation: There will be no more obstructions or ongoing construction.]

Long-term plan

Meanwhile, Dizon said the long-term rehabilitation plan will require limiting bidding to big contractors given the funding requirement, foreign consulting, and new technology.

“The big contractors have the financial capacity and technological capacity to use modern technology because they are expensive, they cost money,” he said, adding that traditional repairs will no longer work for the aging highway.

Japanese and Korean consultants will be tapped to make sure designs will align with international standards, Dizon said.

“Ang sabi nga ni pangulo, hindi importante whether maliit o malaki ang budget, ang importante, bawat piso nagagamit sa tama,” he said.

[Translation: The president said it is not important whether the budget is small or large, what’s important is that every peso is used properly.]

The Cabinet official said the road network in four regions have been identified for long-term rehabilitation, namely, Calabarzon (mostly Quezon), Bicol (mostly Camarines Sur and Albay), Eastern Visayas (Northern Samar, Samar, parts of Southern Leyte), and parts of the Caraga Administrative Region.

Dizon said he will meet with contractors in the first week of March, bidding is in May, and repairs in June or July.