Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon on Thursday said several major construction companies have expressed interest in working on key government infrastructure projects, particularly the rehabilitation of the Maharlika Highway and the construction of more classrooms nationwide.Dizon made the statement after meeting this week with a group of quadruple-A contractors, including DMCI, EEI, Megawide, Makati Development Corporation/Ayala, Hillmarc’s Construction Corporation, DATEM, CM Pancho Construction Inc. (CMPCI), AG&amp;P, and Sta. Clara.“Inimbitahan tayo ng group of the quadruple-A contractors, yung malalaki talagang kumpanya na hindi typically sumasali sa DPWH... Nakita nila yung mga plano ng Pangulo. Inexpress nila yung kagustuhan nilang tumulong at mag-participate,” Dizon told reporters.Dizon noted that these firms usually avoid bidding for government contracts, apart from big-ticket, foreign-assisted projects, because they do not want to get tied up in alleged corruption.“Yung totoo, hindi nila ma-take yung corruption. Diniretso kami nung mga likes of Ayala, DMCI, EEI, and others. Hindi sila papasok sa ganun. Pero ngayon, nakikita nila na, through the efforts of the PBBM (President Bongbong Marcos) administration, merong mga pagbabagong nangyari,” he added.<div>MAHARLIKA HIGHWAY REHAB</div>After doing several road trip inspections, Dizon earlier decided he will no longer allow small-time contractors to work on the overhaul of the Maharlika Highway, as they are only able to do patchwork repairs.Dizon believes that, to fix the deteriorating national road once and for all, the big guns need to step in.“Meron sila nung financial capability at technical expertise na talagang mag-implement ng project nang maayos. They will never compromise quality and hindi sila made-delay,” he said.The more than 3,000-kilometer highway is a major transport artery linking key areas of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Its rehabilitation, expected to begin this year, has been identified by the Marcos administration as a priority to improve mobility and reduce travel time.According to Dizon, the DPWH is considering getting at least one contractor per region.“We’re looking at four to five (contractors). Yung parte ng Region 4A, mostly sa Quezon, yung Andaya highway, kasama na rin ang parts of Albay, Samar, pero napakahaba ng Samar nakita naman natin, baka yun bibiyakin pa yun further, and then yung Northern Mindanao… Yun muna ang priority kasi yun ang pinakamasama ang sitwasyon,” he said.<div>ADDRESSING THE CLASSROOM SHORTAGE</div>Dizon said the major construction firms also expressed interest in helping the government address the country’s classroom backlog, which currently stands at around 165,000.He said they also recommended the use of precast components to speed up construction.“Ang traditional kasi, yung kung paano ang ginagawa ngayon, hollow block by hollow block, matagal yun. Ang precast, lahat ginagawa na offsite sa mga factory. Dine-deliver na yan nang buo sa mga site, ia-assemble na lang,” explained Dizon.The Secretary said he will again meet with the group of contractors next month to present more ironed-out plans and hopefully get the private sector’s commitment to participate, but he stressed that every project will still go through the proper procurement process.“Siyempre lahat ‘to dadaan pa rin sa public bidding, pero tinitignan din namin ang PPP (Public-Private Partnership) option kasi may bago na tayong PPP law, kung ano ang mas mabilis. Kasi March na e, kailangan magsimula na tayo,” said Dizon.<div>CONFLICT OF INTEREST?</div>Dizon also acknowledged the ongoing investigation into CMPCI’s alleged affiliation with Bulacan 2nd District Representative Tina Pancho and involvement in the flood control scandal.The DPWH itself, together with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, urged the Office of the Ombudsman last year to file criminal and administrative complaints against Pancho and other lawmakers for supposedly owning construction firms that bagged government projects, or having family members who did.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/26/ici-eyes-raps-vs-congtractors-1352">ICI seeks raps vs lawmakers with construction firms that bagged DPWH projects</a></div>“Na-mention yun under conflict of interest but they came because the President (Engr. Gerardo Pancho) is currently the President of the Philippine (Constructors) Association of the entire Philippines,” said Dizon.“Open naman tayo sa lahat. Importante, dadaan ‘to sa isang transparent process,” he added.Back in September, CMPCI denied any such accusations, insisting that the company is neither controlled nor owned by the congresswoman. It also asserted that it is not involved in any flood control project.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon on Thursday said several major construction companies have expressed interest in working on key government infrastructure projects.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon on Thursday said several major construction companies have expressed interest in working on key government infrastructure projects.

Dizon: Major contractors interested in Maharlika Highway rehab, classroom projects

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Dizon: Major contractors interested in Maharlika Highway rehab, classroom projects

Andrea Taguines,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 27, 2026 01:41 AM PHT

Read More:

DPWH

big contractors

Maharlika Highway rehabilitation

classroom backlog

Vince Dizon

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