Despite budget cuts, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is rolling out sweeping infrastructure reforms this year, focusing on long-neglected roads and bridges that have burdened motorists for years.

At a media briefing on Monday, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said the agency is pushing ahead with reforms to deliver visible improvements, citing deteriorating bridges and the heavily damaged Maharlika Highway as among the most urgent concerns.

Dizon said a massive rehabilitation of the Maharlika Highway is set to begin this year, the first major overhaul of the country’s main north-to-south artery since it was completed. The project covers stretches across Luzon to ease daily travel difficulties.

He also said the EDSA rehabilitation is progressing faster than planned, with Phase 1 now ahead of schedule, and added that rehabilitation works on C-5 also start this year.

“Even if the DPWH budget is lower than in other years, we can still do and fix more. If the people’s money at DPWH is not stolen, we can accomplish a lot,” Dizon said.