Marcos orders smooth Holy Week travel amid Maharlika Highway repairs

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered authorities to ensure smooth and safe travel along the Maharlika Highway as thousands of Filipinos are expected to head to the provinces for the Holy Week break.

Malacañang said the directive includes fast-tracking roadworks on critical sections of the country’s main arterial highway, with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) racing to complete repairs in key areas across CALABARZON, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and Caraga.

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon was earlier instructed to expedite all remaining construction activities to prevent traffic chokepoints, particularly narrow one-way sections that typically cause heavy congestion during peak travel periods.

“Ensuring safe and efficient travel for motorists and commuters returning to their provinces is a priority, especially during Semana Santa,” the Palace said.

The push to complete roadworks comes amid longstanding complaints over delays in infrastructure projects handled by the DPWH.

Motorists have frequently raised concerns about prolonged construction timelines, repeated repairs on the same road sections, and what critics describe as substandard workmanship that leads to faster road deterioration.

Traffic management around construction zones has also been a recurring issue, with inadequate signage, poorly coordinated lane closures, and limited on-ground personnel often worsening congestion instead of easing it—particularly during peak travel seasons such as Holy Week.

With repairs nearing completion, authorities expect improved traffic flow along the Maharlika Highway, a vital road network linking Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

The DPWH said it will also deploy traffic management measures and coordinate with other government agencies to help manage the anticipated influx of travelers during the Lenten holiday, as it seeks to avoid the bottlenecks that have marred previous holiday exoduses.—MCG, GMA Integrated News