Implementing a pavement management system in the Philippines using the highway development and management (HDM-4) model

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the Philippines is responsible for the management and maintenance of about 29,600 km of national roads. A Pavement Management System (PMS) has been developed and is now being implemented using the Highway Development and Management model, HDM-4, as the economic analytical tool to develop both long term (strategic) plans and medium term multi-year works programmes for the management of this road network. The PMS through the HDM-4 will provide the impetus for a greater emphasis on the preservation of these road pavements. It is based on the use of economic rational to determine the most appropriate maintenance budget for asset preservation given the financial constraints. It will enable quality decision making on a life cycle basis since this tool will provide an insight into the impact of policies and decisions on pavement performance, and thus, can provide a means to diminish political intervention. This paper describes the process of implementing and adopting a Pavement Management System which supports needs analysis, multi-year programming and annual budgeting for the preservation of road pavements on the national road network in the Philippines, customized to local conditions.