LUCENA CITY – Quezon 4th District Cong. Mik e Tan has pressed the Dept. of Public Works and Highways in the implementation of the various infrastructure projects particularly the rehabilitation works of the Maharlika Highway in his district for this year.
“As far as I know, hindi pa po nai-implement ang rehabilitation ng Maharlika Highway for 2026 at hindi pa po talaga nasisimulan ang construction,” said Cong. Tan during the recent committee deliberation of the DPWH budget at the House of Representatives attended by Sec. Vince Dizon and other officials of the agency.
The young Quezon congressman has acknowledged Sec. Dizon for getting down into his district for ocular inspection to assess the real condition of the Maharlika highway as he mentioned the flood-prone areas in Lopez and other towns that have been the constant concern of his constituents during rainy season in his district.
The son of Quezon Gov. Helen Tan, who is in his 2nd term representing the province’ 4th Dist, told Sec. Dizon that even with the P5 Billion budget allocation for Maharlika and Quirino highways for next year the various unfinished and continuing infrastructure projects in the province’ 4th District are being overlooked and not given priority as he thought the DPWH is saddled with numerous flagship projects elsewhere for this year and for 2027.
Sec. Dizon has assured Cong. Tan that the first major rehabilitation work in Maharlika is now to be implemented as the bidding process is being undertaken by his agency and the unfinished projects will see completion as Pres. Bongbong Marcos has committed the DPWH to do it.
“Very important kay president yung finishing the unfinished projects at parang flagship project na rin ng presidente ang Maharlika highway lalo na sa highway ng Distrito ni Cong. Mike papuntang Bicol pero importante rin pong mabalanse natin kasi marami pang mga proyekto na kailangan din pong matapos,” said Dizon vowing to assist the House committee in identifying the various unfinished projects in Quezon 4th District needing to be completed.
Cong. Tan further asked if it is the UPMO – apparently referring to the Unified Project Management Office of the DPWH – that will be implementing the various road constructions in Maharlika highway in his district as he sadly disclosed that 4 bridge projects in his district costing just P20 million undertaken by the said implementing office took 6 years to finish and 1 bridge project in Perez town spanning only 42 meters which started in 2018 has gone unconstructed until now and went nowhere.
He also asked Sec. Dizon about the DPWH’s absorptive capacity (AC) in implementing its programs and projects considering that it is in the thick of numerous reform programs and projects being undertaken in many parts of the country.
Sec. Dizon has admitted that his agency’s absorptive capacity is lower this year but he expressed confidence that they are catching up and by Sept. 80% of the projects will have been awarded already for 2026. He said that compared to the previous years with their early procurements, this year’s AC is lower as requirements are not complied with on time. He also said that it is the DPWH Regional Office and not the UPMO that will be implementing the Maharlika infra projects in Quezon 4th District.