TACLOBAN CITY — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday inspected the ongoing P28.73-billion rehabilitation of the Maharlika Highway in Samar, saying the project will significantly improve mobility in Eastern Visayas and cut travel time between Tacloban City and Catbalogan City by more than an hour once completed in August 2026.
Accompanied by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, the President visited the project site in Pinabacdao town, where he was welcomed by Mayor Viannery Dy Mabag and other local officials.
Marcos said the rehabilitation of the key highway corridor is expected to boost regional connectivity, facilitate the faster movement of people and goods, and support economic growth across Samar and neighboring provinces.
Once completed, travel time between Tacloban and Catbalogan is expected to be reduced from approximately three hours to one hour and 45 minutes, providing motorists with a safer and more efficient route.
The President also stressed the need to ensure that the project meets quality standards and is completed on schedule.
The rehabilitation covers a major section of the Maharlika Highway, also known as the Pan-Philippine Highway, the country’s principal land transportation network linking Luzon, Samar, Leyte, and Mindanao.
In Eastern Visayas, the highway stretches 395.52 kilometers from Allen, Northern Samar, to San Ricardo, Southern Leyte, with about 205.75 kilometers traversing Samar province. The road serves as a critical corridor for passenger transport, commerce, agriculture, tourism, and government services.
Government officials said the rehabilitation project is intended to address aging and deteriorated road sections that have been affected by years of heavy use and adverse weather conditions.
Beyond reducing travel time, the upgraded highway is expected to lower transportation costs, improve logistics for farmers, fisherfolk, and businesses, and enhance access to schools, hospitals, government offices, and other essential services.
Officials also noted that the improved road network will strengthen disaster response capabilities by ensuring safer and more reliable routes for relief and recovery operations during emergencies and natural calamities.
The rehabilitation works are targeted for completion in August 2026, marking a major step in the government’s efforts to modernize infrastructure and improve connectivity in Eastern Visayas.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
