How to merge cells in php generated table?
<tr>
<?php if ($work_name !=$currentWork) { ?>
    <td>
    <?php
    if ($name != $currentName) {

        echo html_encode($name);
     }

    $currentName = $name;

    ?>
    </td>


    <td><i>
    <?php
    if ($work_name !=$currentWork) {

      echo html_encode($work_name);
    }

    else {

    echo " ";
    }
    $currentWork = $work_name;


    ?></i></td>

    <td>
    <?php
    if ($role_attrs->name == $previousRole) {
    continue;

    }

    else {
    echo html_encode($role_attrs->name);


    }

    $previousRole = $role_attrs->name;

    ?></td>
 </tr>

<tr>
  <td colspan="2">a cell using 2 colums</td>
</tr>
<tr>
  <td rowspan="2">a cell using 2 rows</td>
</tr>