Budget Chief Orders Road Fix in Pampanga Town Amid Delays
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has called on the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to realign current funds or tap into the P1-billion Quick Response Fund (QRF) to finally complete the long-overdue concreting of Apalit Road. This road serves as a crucial alternative route to the North Luzon Expressway.
Pangandaman’s directive came after a personal inspection of the notorious “sungka” road, named after the traditional Filipino game due to its large, crater-like potholes along MacArthur Highway. The keyphrase “budget chief orders road fix” was evident in her strong call for immediate action.
Emergency Repairs Highlight Road’s Poor Condition
The inspection followed a swift response by Pampanga’s provincial and Apalit municipal governments, which rushed to patch massive potholes spanning three unfinished segments: 75 meters in Barangay San Vicente, 200 meters in Barangay Sampaloc, and 100 meters in Barangay Santiago. Vice Governor Dennis Pineda and Mayor Oscar Tetangco Jr. led efforts deploying heavy machinery including graders, compactors, and wheel loaders for emergency fixes.
Local quarry operators and haulers contributed around 60 truckloads of sand and boulders to fill some potholes as wide as a 66-seater bus. Even a 50-meter stretch in front of the Linde construction company was patched on Monday.
Funds Available but Misallocated, Says Pangandaman
At a press briefing, Pangandaman revealed that funds exist in other projects that have either been completed or are not urgently needed. “We actually have funds in other areas that are either already completed or not urgently needed. These are no longer priorities,” she said, emphasizing the need to redirect these funds to this critical road repair.
She explained that the persistent damage to the road is mostly due to recent flooding. “This damage was caused by recent flooding, right? We have what’s called the QRF. That’s a fund we release for disasters. This is probably the first major disaster this year caused by the monsoon and typhoon,” Pangandaman added.
She assured that the full P1 billion remains intact in the 2025 budget but stressed the importance of proper repair using concrete rather than temporary sand fill.
Local Officials Criticize Slow National Response
Vice Gov. Pineda described the Apalit Road as a “seesaw,” pointing out uneven levels and faulty drainage canals that divert floodwaters into residential areas instead of creeks or rivers. Mayor Tetangco expressed frustration over the DPWH’s inaction, saying, “We’ve had enough of following up with the DPWH.”
He recalled that during a meeting in August 2023, President Marcos assured them that funding for Apalit Road was already part of the 2024 budget. However, locals continue to suffer from the unfinished and damaged road.
Documents show the DPWH regional office requested a P200-million budget endorsement from the Regional Development Council to finish the project. Meanwhile, local governments feel burdened by having to intervene in national infrastructure issues.
“Look at this. National projects that were damaged or left unfinished are now becoming our concern,” Pineda remarked, referencing at least 10 infrastructure projects in Pampanga facing similar delays.
Funding Details and Future Plans
Records indicate that in 2023, the San Vicente–Apalit Road received P42.8 million in national funds. Meanwhile, the Apalit-Macabebe-Masantol Road was allocated P2.8 million and P11.5 million respectively. A source familiar with the project mentioned that the road repairs might be covered through the QRF or by realigning P30 million originally designated for the San Vicente segment.
Additionally, the DPWH regional office proposed a separate P386-million budget to upgrade the Minalin-Sto. Tomas-Apalit-San Simon Road.
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