NEW TOLL. Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson leads the inaugural drive through at the Balagtas interchange along the North Luzon Expressway last March 20.
With him are (L-R) Akio Yonezawa of the Japanese Embassy in Manila, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation President and Chief Exec. Officer Ramoncito Fernandez and Toll Regulatory Board Exec. Director Edmundo Reyes Jr.
BALAGTAS, Bulacan – Travel time to and from eastern Bulacan and Central Luzon through the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) has been dramatically reduced.
This came as the Balagtas Interchange was opened to vehicular traffic 1 p.m. on Tuesday leading to the 6.87-kilometers Plaridel by-pass road which branch out to the northbound lane of the NLEX.
The opening of the by-pass road is part of the 24.61 kilometers arterial road project that will link the NLEX with the Philippine Japan Friendship Highway or the old Maharlika Highway that traverses the eastern part of Luzon.
Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said the completion of the arterial road project will greatly boost economic activity in eastern Bulacan and Central Luzon.
But initially, he stressed that travel time will be greatly reduced, especially when the whole 24.61-kiolometers arterial road project is completed.
Based on date released by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the 6.87 kilometer Plaridel by-pass road is under the contract package of the project’s Phase 1 funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The P1.570-billion Plaridel by-pass road which straddles Barangay Borol 1st in Balagtas town to Barangay Bulihan in Plaridel town was completed last November 25. It has one 60-meter bridge and 2.40-kilometer access road.
The 7.75-kilometer contract package II of the project, which is also under Phase I, will extend the contract package I to Bustos town. JICA is readying P543.33-million for the said project.
Singson said that it is projected to be completed by next year but contractors said it will be completed by June this year.
He said he is looking forward for the early implementation of the contract package III and IV under phase II covering a total of 9.86 kilometers from Bustos to Barangay Maasim in San Rafael town.
The said segment of the project will also be bankrolled by a loan from JICA.
For his part, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ramoncito Fernandez said the Plaridel bypass road and the Balagtas interchange is a good manifestation of public-private partnership (PPP).
“In this PPP, the government provided the road infrastructure while the Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) will operate and maintain it as the country’s newest tollway,” he said.
The MNTC installed the fixed and non-fixed equipment necessary for an efficient tollway system.
Rodrigo Franco, president and CEO of the MNTC, said they allocated a total of P109-million for the said equipment, plus P22-million for the operation and maintenance of the Balagtas interchange and portion of the by-pass road.
With regards to toll fee, Edmundo Reyes, executive director of the Toll Regulatory Board, said they approved its collection at the Balagtas interchange.
Reyes said that toll fees to be collected will be based on existing per kilometer collection of the Traffic Management Corporation, the operator of the NLEX.
