DPWH’s nine flagship projects to be implemented by 2028 to test Marcos’ infrastructure push

By Adrian H. Halili again Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Journalists

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has said that nine infrastructure projects worth R210 billion are on track for completion by 2028, putting the delivery test to the Marcos administration as it looks to restore growth and restore confidence after last year’s corruption scandals that weighed on the use of public funds.

Speaking at a House of Representatives forum on Thursday, Public Works Secretary Emil K. Sadain said the projects mark a milestone under the administration’s “Build the Best” program, which places infrastructure at the center of its economic strategy.

“Another important milestone to mark here is the nine infrastructure projects to be completed under this administration,” he said, setting the timeline as a sign of the government’s execution before the end of the term of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

Several projects are nearing completion or entering the final stages of construction. Phase 1 of the Central Luzon Link Expressway, a 29.2-kilometer expressway connecting Tarlac City and Cabanatuan City, carries a project cost of P14.9 billion and is scheduled to open in February.

The road is expected to reduce travel time across Central Luzon, a major agricultural corridor, improve farm-to-market access and logistics efficiency.

Another project slated for completion this year is the P25.3-billion Improve Growth Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project. Mr. Sadain said the plan includes 152 road sections and about 20 bridge projects spread across Mindanao, aimed at easing transportation problems in one of the least developed but fastest growing regions in the country.

“It is running 152 new roads and about 20 bridge projects that are about to be completed,” he said.

Flood control, a recurring concern of Metro Manila, is high on the list. The Metro Manila Flood Management Project, worth P24.9 billion, involves the construction of 39 pumping stations throughout the capital. Mr. Sadain said 16 pumping stations have been completed, while the remaining 23 are scheduled to be completed by 2028.

“This will play a major role in reducing flooding in Metro Manila,” he said, pointing to the importance of this program as weather hazards are intensifying and traffic in cities is getting worse.

Traffic congestion in the capital is also a focus of the P12.03-billion Metro Manila Bridges Project, which involves building three bridges across the Marikina River. The bridges are designed to decongest the highways by adding more lanes between Marikina City and Quezon City.

“These are other connectors that can connect Marikina City to Quezon City,” said Mr. Sadain.

Beyond Luzon, two major projects in Mindanao – the Samal Island-Davao City Connector Bridge and the Davao City Bypass Construction Project – are slated for completion in 2028. Both are expected to support trade, tourism and travel in Davao Region, which the government sees as an anchor for growth outside Metro Manila.

Other projects listed for completion include the Philippines Seismic Risk Reduction and Resilience Project, the Greater Marawi Reconstruction and Development Plan, and the Panglao-Tagbilaran City Offshore Bridge Connector, which aims to improve tourism and connectivity in Bohol.

Although DPWH officials expressed confidence in meeting the 2028 timeline, right-of-way acquisition remains a major risk. Mr. Sadain urged lawmakers to continue funding land acquisition to prevent delays in construction.

“We don’t have a big problem with the possible delay, as long as we get the necessary allocations for the next two years to finance the procurement properly,” he said.

Under the 2026 national spending plan, the Department of Public Works has been allocated R17 billion for proper funding. Some lawmakers have suggested transferring more responsibility to local governments to speed up the process. Rizal Rep. Jose Arturo S. Garcia, Jr., who heads the House Flagship Programs and Projects Committee, said local governments can acquire land faster if they are given direct funds.

“Maybe we can speed this up by providing money to local governments,” he said in Filipino. “They will handle the relevant issues on behalf of the National Government,” he added, noting that the acquisition could be completed within six months.

NOT A DEVELOPMENT RATE
Still, analysts remain cautious. Rene S. Santiago, a global transportation development consultant and former president of the Transportation Science Society of the Philippines, said the DPWH may struggle to deliver all nine projects on time amid the fallout from the corruption scandal.

“All these projects started a long time ago,” he said in a Viber message. “Six of them can eventually reach the finish line, sure, but not all nine.”

The DPWH is embroiled in a graft scandal involving district officials and engineers accused of colluding with top law enforcement officials to siphon billions of pesos earmarked for flood control projects. The controversy led to stricter procurement rules and reduced public spending last year, worrying economic growth.

Jose Enrique A. Africa, executive director of the IBON Foundation, said projects in densely populated urban areas are at risk of delays compared to direct projects in parts of Visayas and Mindanao. He added that higher spending on infrastructure does not automatically translate into broader development.

“Although the completion of infrastructure is a test of the government’s ability to project, it is not actually a measure of the country’s development,” he said in a Viber message.

Nigel Paul C. Villarete, senior consultant at Libra Konsult, Inc., said the challenge is in execution rather than planning. “Project development and execution is another thing, and that’s where the gap comes in,” he added, adding that closing that gap would allow more projects to move forward.

The push to complete the nine projects comes as Mr. Marcos showing more spending on infrastructure that remains.

After the seventh meeting of the Economic and Development Council (EDC) earlier this week, the President said some big ticket projects are still being reviewed as the government seeks to stimulate investment and growth after last year’s recession.

The EDC, under the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development, acts as the custodian of public capital. Approvals from the council are expected to open priority projects in the coming months, a move the administration is expecting as it sets the year 2026 as a transition for faster delivery, stronger governance and renewed investor confidence.

The Philippine economy grew by 3% in the fourth quarter, the slowest pace in nearly five years and bringing full-year growth to 4.4%. This was below the government’s target of 5.5-6.5% per annum.

The Palace said the government is banking on new investment in technology, rapid infrastructure spending and strong governance to support growth this year.

“Right now the administration is taking steps to promote private investment in technology and other sectors, increase agricultural production, accelerate infrastructure development, pass the most important laws and strengthen good governance,” Palace Press chief Clarissa A. Castro told reporters in Filipino via Viber.