Manila: More funds have been poured into the repair of damaged road sections of the 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.

According to Philippines News Agency, 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 region's major highway got a higher outlay. In 2024, the 395.52-km segment of Maharlika Highway in Eastern Visayas received PHP8.05 billion.

A significant portion 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 received a poor rating, based on recent assessments. Tabacon stated that 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.