Why DPWH is destroying good roads?
Roads and highways are thoroughfares constructed for the purpose of providing faster and more convenient passage of vehicles and people. Animal trails were turned into dirt roads, until they were improved into wider and permanent paved roads.
According to history references, the world’s oldest known paved road was constructed in Egypt between 2600 and 2200 BC provide vehicles, soldiers and people faster mobilization or travel.
In the Philippines, the Department of Public Works and Highways or DPWH is responsible for the planning, design, construction and maintenance of the national roads and highways. For 2025, the DPWH is requesting a P900 billion budget, although the amount is lower than the P997.90 Billion budget allocated in the 2024 General Appropriations Act, it is the second biggest share (the first is DEPED) of the proposed P6.35 Trillion national budget.
Roads were increasingly built for tourism and farm-to-market roads and other economic development. The more roads the community have, the more develop it likely is. Build a road to traverse a mountain or farm, and you will witness how fast residential and industrial development comes to life in the area.
Hear’s To Watch. Despite the impressive performance of the DPWH in building roads, many residents, particularly the motorists, are still amaze, puzzled and wondering how the department is implementing some of its programs; raising the question: Why?
One of the many “concrete” cases to mention is the part of the Olongapo-Bugallon Road in Barangay Barretto, Olongapo City. The concrete road was no more than three years old, and in good condition, well maintained, and no potholes or irreparable cracks. But to the surprise of everyone, early this year, part of the road was jack-hammered, demolished and later repaved. Since there is only one road linking Olongapo City, Subic Bay Freeport and Zambales, the road construction had made going to and from work, school and resorts horrible and stressful for months. People were asking why?
“Wala namang sira, sinisira! Ang daming lugar na walang kalsada, bakit hindi doon gumawa ng kalsada,” or words like this, a public sentiment expressing disapproval on the alledged wasting of the tax payers’ money. And they asked, “Why?”
The DPWH may have good reasons for these actions, but building new roads should be prioritized especially in the rural areas. Build first roads to connect communities to the cities to enable the farmers to transport their produce to the market place; or make roads that will connect the highways to the tourist parks, rather than destroying existing roads only to pave again. It is a total waste and the public could not see the logic of these.
