In line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s commitment to building resilient and sustainable infrastructure, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has approved the use of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottle waste as an additive to enhance stability and extend the lifespan of asphalt-paved national roads.
Building on the 2024 initiative of using Low-Density Polythylene (LDPE) plastic bag waste in road construction, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, signed a Department Order on the standard specification for the use of another plastic waste material dubbed as Item 310 (19) or the bituminous concrete surface course with PET plastic bottle waste, hot-laid.
“Turning waste into valuable resources for building better and more roads is the future of public infrastructure development in the country,” Bonoan explained.
“The public can expect more of these policies as we vow to continue to fund this construction innovation.”
“The public can expect more of these policies as we vow to continue to fund this construction innovation,” the public works chief added.
He said plastic waste mixture now forms part of the DPWH Standard Specification for Highways, Bridges, and Airports, Volume II, and is now included in the Department’s Project and Contract Management Application which will be used for future projects of DPWH Regional Offices, Unified Project Management Office Clusters, and District Engineering Offices nationwide.
