Metro Manila, Philippines – After the EDSA rehabilitation, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will prioritize the repair of main roads and bridges across the country, including C5 and the Maharlika Highway — the longest road network connecting Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, Secretary Vince Dizon said.

In his first press briefing for 2026 on Monday, Jan. 12, Dizon said the massive rehabilitation of the Maharlika Highway will be the first round of road works since it was established in the late 1960s under the leadership of late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos.

“And when I say massive, I mean all segments na sira ng Maharika Highway ay aayusin natin. Mula north hanggang south,” he said.

[Translation: And when I say massive, I mean we will fix all damaged sections of the Maharlika Highway — from north to south.]

Dizon said the initial funding for the Maharlika Highway is pegged at P16 billion, but noted that the budget could increase.

He added that he will visit the network, specifically in Bicol, on Jan. 16 to 17 to inspect the situation.

Also up for rehabilitation is the Circumferential Road (C5), a network of roads and bridges connecting key cities in Metro Manila, in particular Las Piñas to Valenzuela.

Dizon said the DPWH is now formulating a new design for C5, with rehabilitation expected in the first quarter of the year.

“Itong C5. Ito ang backbone na dinadaanan ng mga truck. Talagang madalas masira ‘yan,” he said.

[Translation: This C-5 — this is the backbone used by trucks. It really gets damaged often.]

Meanwhile, the secretary also shared that the DPWH is ahead of schedule on the May 31 timeline for the first phase of the EDSA rehabilitation, which focuses on Taft Ave. in Pasay City to Orense in Makati City.

Dizon said reblocking during weekends is being held for the entire day, while asphalt overlays are done weeknights.

The DPWH said it will also prioritize the repairs and maintenance of the following road networks:

Apalit (MacArthur Highway)
Andaya Highway
Buot-Taop bridge (Cebu City)
Oyungan bridge (Iloilo City)
Tubod-Nabuna bridge (Aloran, Misamis Occidental)
Damaged hanging bridge (Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya)

Dizon vowed to fix infrastructure projects, even with a lower funding this year. The agency’s 2026 budget was set at P529.6 billion – lower than the proposal of P881 billion.

“Iyon ang papatunayan natin ngayon, na kapag ang pera ng taong bayan sa DPWH hindi ninanakaw, mas marami tayong magagawa, mas mababa ang presyo, mas mabilis at mas maganda pa ang quality,” he said.

[Translation: That is what we will prove today: that when the people’s money in the DPWH is not stolen, we can do more, costs are lower, work is faster, and the quality is even better.]