Disaster-response construction to set pace of infrastructure development by 2026 – Dizon
By Trixee Rosel
At A Glance
- DPWH to speed up infrastructure projects starting 2026 using disaster-response construction methods.
- Approach ensures faster delivery without compromising cost and quality.
- Key projects include Piggatan Detour Bridge, Cebu Provincial Hospital, Masbate schools, Bukidnon-Davao Road, and San Juanico Bridge.
Infrastructure projects will be accelerated starting 2026 as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) applies disaster-response construction methods to ensure faster delivery at the right cost and quality, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said.
Dizon emphasized that the shift reflects the agency’s ability to deliver projects quickly without compromising standards.
The DPWH chief noted that lessons from post-disaster rehabilitation works will now be applied to bridges, roads, hospitals, and school buildings.
Among the projects highlighted was the Piggatan Detour Bridge in Alcala, Cagayan, completed in just 60 days to restore connectivity after storm damage.
He also pointed to the rapid repair of the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Bogo City, Cebu, where tents and smart facilities were installed to resume operations quickly.
The same accelerated approach was applied to school buildings in Masbate damaged by Typhoon Opong, allowing classes to reopen sooner than expected.
Other projects under the disaster-speed model include the collapsed section of the Bukidnon-Davao Road (BuDa Road) in Sitio Kipolot, Quezon, Bukidnon, which is scheduled for completion by Jan. 6.
The DPWH is also using the strategy for the ongoing strengthening of the San Juanico Bridge in Tacloban City, which has already partially reopened to heavy vehicles as structural works continue.