by Ahikam Pasion
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon inspected several infrastructure projects in Pangasinan and raised concerns over delays, particularly unfinished bridge and bypass road developments during his visit on Friday, February 27.
Among the projects inspected were the 910-meter bridge linking the towns of Santo Tomas and Villasis, the 9.9-kilometer Binalonan–Laoac–Villasis Diversion Road, and the 6.774-kilometer Dagupan–Mangaldan Diversion Road.
expressed disappointment over the slow progress of a bypass road project that began in 2018 but remains incomplete. He said the national government is prioritizing funding for unfinished infrastructure before approving new projects.
According to Dizon, he was directed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to inspect delayed projects nationwide, noting similar cases in several regions over the past eight years.
The bypass road aims to ease congestion along the MacArthur Highway by diverting traffic away from the towns of Villasis, Carmen, and Urdaneta. Because the project is unfinished, trucks and buses continue to pass through the highway, contributing to heavy traffic and accelerated road deterioration, local officials said.
Dizon cited incomplete funding as a primary cause of delays, explaining that project budgets were sometimes reduced or redirected to newer infrastructure proposals.
The bypass road requires nearly ₱1 billion to complete, including about ₱500 million for right-of-way acquisition.He clarified that the issue was largely linked to the national budgeting system rather than the performance of regional or district DPWH offices.
The DPWH chief directed agency officials not to propose new projects without secured funding for ongoing ones. He added that unfinished infrastructure nationwide would be prioritized in the 2027 and 2028 national budgets, with completion of the Pangasinan bypass road targeted by December 2027.
Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico III said the project is expected to help reduce travel time and improve traffic flow once completed.