SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur (MindaNews / 10 March) —The 122-kilometer Daang Maharlika Highway segment in Agusan del Sur has been allocated P3.19 billion of the P4.4 billion budget for major road rehabilitation projects along the Surigao-Agusan and Agusan-Davao Sections of the national highway within the Caraga Region, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said in a post on its website on March 6.
In July last year, Rep. Romeo S. Momo of Surigao del Sur’s 1st District, a former DPWH undersecretary, urged DPWH officials to establish a specialized program to address the deteriorating road conditions from San Francisco to Trento towns in Agusan del Sur.
The poor condition of this highway section has drawn criticism from netizens, with online comments expressing dissatisfaction with the state of the road, especially in light of expenditures on events like the recent Naliyagan Festival.
Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane Jr. clarified that the rehabilitation of the Maharlika Highway falls under the jurisdiction of the DPWH, not of the provincial government.
Momo also recommended that the DPWH reconsider the thickness of the concrete road pavement, suggesting an increase from 9-10 inches to 12-14 inches for greater durability, with a projected lifespan of 30-40 years.
He attributed the premature deterioration of the road to fault lines affecting certain sections of the highway and the overloading of 10-wheeler trucks. During his tenure at the DPWH Caraga Regional Office, he observed cracks in some parts of the road following earthquakes or storms, noting more pronounced damage on the right lane heading north due to overloaded trucks transporting falcata logs.
According to Pol M. Delos Santos, DPWH Regional Office 13 Director, there are 45 projects included in the 2024 General Appropriations Act aimed at improving the condition of the Daang Maharlika Road, stretching from Barangay Lipata in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte to Barangay Langkilaan in Trento, Agusan del Sur.
Agusan del Sur will receive a significant portion of the budget for 29 projects, following an identification of what sections need to be prioritized.
The DPWH Agusan del Sur First and Second District Engineering Offices will oversee the implementation of 13 and 16 projects, respectively.
Meanwhile, the remaining projects will cover the provinces of Agusan del Norte with six projects worth P456.78 million; Surigao del Norte with seven projects worth P519.91 million; and Butuan City with three projects worth P275.34 million.
Delos Santos, in his report to DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan and Undersecretary for Mindanao Operations Eugenio R. Pipo Jr., explained that the projects along the Daang Maharlika in Caraga will include preventive maintenance, asphalt overlaying, major repair and widening of roads and bridges, concrete reblocking, and installations of road safety measures such as pavement markings and signage.
He assured swift and close monitoring of the projects, which have been given priority status due to the significance of Daang Maharlika as a major trunkline in the Philippines and the recent directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to repair damaged roads following recent flooding and earthquakes in the Caraga Region.
“We are expediting the pre-construction requirements of these projects, with some having completed procurement activities and ready for implementation. Once all requirements are met, we will commence construction works immediately,” said Delos Santos. (Chris V. Panganiban/MindaNews)
