Project Performance Evaluation Using Critical Path Method and Earned Value Management: A Comparative Analysis of Road Maintenance Projects in the 4th District of Camarines Sur

Road maintenance projects often face delays and budget overruns due to dispersed works, constrained time windows, and resource limitations. This study evaluates the comparative effectiveness of the Critical Path Method (CPM) and Earned Value Management (EVM), including Earned Schedule (ES), in monitoring the performance of road maintenance projects in the 4th District of Camarines Sur, Philippines. A descriptive–comparative design was applied, analyzing five purposively selected projects through documentary analysis, schedule reconstruction, EVM computation, and key informant validation. Findings reveal that CPM obtained a weighted mean rating of 4.3, emphasizing its strength in identifying critical activities and forecasting schedule delays, while EVM registered a mean of 4.4, highlighting its greater utility in cost efficiency and integrated performance analysis. Notably, the integrated CPM–EVM framework achieved the highest rating of 4.8, underscoring its superior usefulness and potential for institutional adoption in infrastructure project monitoring. The study recommends that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) institutionalize CPM–EVM integration to enhance accountability, early warning systems, and transparency in project delivery.