SAN RAFAEL, Bulacan — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is fast-tracking the implementation of a priority infra-road project in this province to further improve access, increase economic activity, and enhance the quality of life of many Filipinos particularly in the nearby areas of Central Luzon.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as represented by Secretary Antonio Lagdameo Jr. of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President led the inauguration of the project involving the expansion of the existing two-lane road to four lanes of the Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase III Contract Package 4 in Barangay Maasim in the said town on Monday (Oct. 9).
Also present at the inauguration of the project to cater to the increasing volume of traffic here were DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Ambassador Kazuhiko Kashikawa, Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Chief Representative Takema Sakamoto, Bulacan Vice Gov. Alex Castro, Congresswoman Lorna Silverio of the 3rd District of Bulacan, Bustos Mayor Francis Albert G. Juan, San Rafael Mayor Mark Cholo I. Violago, and DPWH employees of in Bulacan and Region III.
President Marcos’ message delivered by Special Assistant to President Lagdameo, the president once again assured that the infrastructure projects that have already started will be finished and completed while priority new roads, railways, airports, and ports will also be started.
He said this will serve as a great contribution to the aspiration to achieve a ‘New Philippines’ that will be passed on to the new generation of Filipinos.
The inaugurated part of the Plaridel Arterial Bypass Road is part of Phase III-Contract Package 4. It is a continuation of the new southbound lane Angat River Viaduct and the new San Rafael Flyover.
This is the northern part of the total 24.61 kilometer Plaridel Arterial Bypass Road from here in San Rafael to the Balagtas Exit of the North Luzon Expressway or NLEX. A total of P5.2 billion in Official Development Assistance or ODA from the Japan International Cooperation Agency or JICA has been allocated to this project.
Within the said amount, about P867.9 million was spent on Phase III-Contract Package 4.
According to Department of Public Works and Highways or DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, this will further ease the flow of traffic for cargo, travelers, and motorists from the northern part of Bulacan exiting the NLEX. Also those from the NLEX-Balagtas Exit towards San Rafael and this side of the third district of Bulacan.
Bonoan added that the inaugurated section covering the construction of a 7.64-kilometer road including a 36.86-meter single-span bridge and a 318-meter flyover from part of the Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase 3.
“The additional lanes provided will address traffic congestion and enhance economic activities of the entire province of Bulacan,” added Sec. Bonoan.
He also said this is one of the 194 priority projects under the Build-Better-More Program of the administration of President Marcos Jr.
In line with the “Build Better More” infrastructure development agenda of Pres. Marcos, Bonoan said the DPWH targets to finish by the first half of 2024 the ongoing contract packages 1 and 2 which will cover the remaining 12.5 kilometers which is currently 64.28 percent completed.
Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa said that the Plaridel Arterial Bypass Road project is proof of Japan’s long-term cooperation with the Philippines to further raise the level of infrastructure quality.
JICA Chief Representative in the Philippines Takema Sakamoto said during a media interview that Japan will not end up helping to achieve a “New Philippines” by continuing to invest in big-ticket infrastructure projects from bypass roads, railways, ports, and airports.
“JICA has been working on the development of the road network here in Bulacan and we invested billions of pesos in three phases of this Arterial Road Bypass Project,” Sakamoto said.
He added that JICA has many big-ticket projects underway such as the North-South Commuting Railway, Manila Subway, and Davao Bypass project.
Meanwhile, according to Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain, in charge of DPWH infrastructure flagship projects, from the initial stage of two-lane two-way traffic under Phase 1 and 2, the Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase 3 funded by loan agreement No. PH-P266 between the Government of the Philippines and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) involves widening the entire 24.61-kilometer stretch of the Arterial Road Bypass Project traversing five municipalities of Bulacan namely: Balagtas, Guiguinto, Plaridel, Bustos, and San Rafael.
The widened portion of the bypass road now stretches 9.97 kilometers with the 2.22-kilometer contract package 3 including one of Luzon’s longest bridges across the Angat River in Bustos, Bulacan completed in 2021.
The project was first conceptualized in 2002 with the assistance of JICA. The first section was opened in the town of Plaridel in March 2012. The Bustos section followed in March 2013 and reached San Rafael in April 2018. In 2017, the construction of the new southbound lane of this bypass road began. The former two-lane bypass road will now be exclusive as a northbound lane or for vehicles going to San Rafael, San Ildefonso, and San Miguel. (UnliNews Online)
