BALIWAG, BULACAN — After years of waiting, one of the most troubled sections of Daang Maharlika in Baliwag is finally getting a major overhaul—with the road set to be raised by 0.7 meter to help address persistent flooding, water accumulation and severe pavement damage.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has begun work on roughly one kilometer of Daang Maharlika, from the area after the Baliwag Flyover toward the San Rafael boundary.
The project carries a total funding of ₱458 million, consisting of ₱100 million from the reprogrammed 2025 national budget and ₱358 million from the 2026 national budget, according to the Philippine Information Agency.
The long-awaited project was highlighted during DPWH Secretary Vivencio Dizon’s inspection of the area, where construction crews are currently excavating what will become new drainage channels alongside the highway.
WHY IS THE ROAD BEING RAISED?
The affected stretch has long been vulnerable to flooding and rainwater accumulation, contributing to the deterioration of the roadway.
Under the rehabilitation plan, the four-lane road will be raised by approximately 0.7 meter and supported by large drainage canals on both sides.
The road will also receive reinforced concrete pavement, with steel reinforcement being installed as part of the reconstruction.
The goal is not simply to patch potholes, but to address the underlying problems that have made the section difficult and uncomfortable for motorists for years.
For drivers who regularly use the Baliwag–San Rafael corridor, that could mean a significant change.
Baliwag City Vice Mayor Ferdinand Estrella said motorists have endured deep and sharp potholes along the stretch for years, with the local government repeatedly seeking improvements from DPWH.
WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG?
One of the most notable revelations surrounding the project involves its funding.
According to Dizon, previous allocations had been directed instead toward portions of the Manila North Road, also known as MacArthur Highway, despite those sections being in relatively good condition.
Dizon said it would not make sense to damage roads that were still in good shape simply to spend an existing allocation while more badly damaged roads remained without sufficient funding.
The DPWH therefore reworked and realigned funding from the 2025 and 2026 national budgets to finance the Baliwag rehabilitation.
That process contributed to the project’s lengthy delay.
Now, however, construction is underway.
11 MONTHS TO GO
For motorists hoping for immediate relief, there is still a wait.
Dizon told the public that the project is expected to be completed in approximately 11 months.
That means motorists using the area should expect construction activity and possible traffic disruptions while the road is being raised, rebuilt and fitted with its new drainage system.
But the project could have implications beyond Baliwag itself.
WHY DAANG MAHARLIKA MATTERS
Daang Maharlika is more than just another provincial road.
The Bulacan section forms part of a major transportation corridor connecting communities in Central Luzon and providing access toward Northern Luzon.
PIA reported that the route is heavily used to transport agricultural products, including rice and vegetables from San Rafael, San Ildefonso and San Miguel in Bulacan, as well as parts of Nueva Ecija.
It also provides a lower-cost alternative for motorists traveling toward Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Isabela and Cagayan, particularly for those seeking alternatives to toll expressways.
Earlier DPWH and PIA reports have likewise documented rehabilitation and improvement projects along Daang Maharlika in other parts of Central Luzon, underscoring the road’s importance as a major national transport artery.
In 2022, DPWH reported the completion of widening and rehabilitation works along the Daang Maharlika corridor in Bulacan, covering the route from the Tabang Cloverleaf area in Guiguinto through Plaridel, Pulilan, Baliwag, San Rafael, San Ildefonso and San Miguel.
PART OF A MUCH BIGGER MAHARLIKA HIGHWAY REHABILITATION
The Baliwag project comes as DPWH pushes a much broader rehabilitation program for the Maharlika Highway.
In January 2026, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon announced a massive rehabilitation initiative for damaged sections of the highway nationwide.
The Philippine News Agency reported that the program was estimated at around ₱16 billion, with the Maharlika Highway identified as one of DPWH’s major priorities for 2026.
The highway connects Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and is used by millions of Filipinos for transportation, trade and travel.
PIA separately reported that major rehabilitation works were being prepared for critical portions of the Maharlika Highway in Quezon, including areas affected by potholes, pavement deterioration and flooding.
That makes the Baliwag rehabilitation part of a much larger effort to restore one of the country’s most important road networks.
MORE REPAIRS MAY BE COMING
The Baliwag project may not be the end of the story.
Dizon has also ordered an inspection of other problem areas along the same route, including the Tarcan Bridge in Baliwag, which reportedly has a large hole, as well as damaged portions of the highway in San Miguel, Bulacan.
Meanwhile, the portion of Daang Maharlika from the Baliwag-Pulilan Diversion Road intersection toward the Baliwag Flyover has already undergone rehabilitation, according to PIA.
So while the ₱458-million project tackles one of the worst remaining sections, motorists could soon see additional interventions along the wider Baliwag–San Rafael–San Miguel corridor.
WHAT MOTORISTS SHOULD EXPECT
For now, patience remains necessary.
The rehabilitation will involve excavation, drainage construction, road elevation, reinforcement and concrete pavement works.
But once completed, the upgraded section is expected to provide motorists with a safer and more durable roadway while addressing one of the area’s recurring problems: flooding and poor drainage.
After years of potholes, delays and complaints, the long-awaited question is no longer whether the Baliwag section will be repaired.
Construction has already begun.
The next question is whether the ₱458-million, 11-month project can finally deliver the safer, higher and more flood-resilient Daang Maharlika that motorists have been waiting for.
For thousands of motorists, commuters and agricultural traders who depend on this road every day, the countdown has officially started.
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