The Department of Public Works of Highway (DPWH) has submitted to the National Economic and Development Autgority (NEDA) the unsolicited proposal of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) to extend the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) up to San Juan, La Union, according to Alex Bote, DPWH office-in-charge director for Public Private Partnership Service.
Bote said the proposal had been endorsed to the NEDA-Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) for approval.
It will then go to the NEDA board headed by President Duterte for final approval before subjecting it to Swiss challenge where other companies can submit a better offer.
Mark Villar, DPWH secretary, said the agency hopes to conduct the Swiss challenge this year.
Last December, DPWH awarded the original proponent status to SMC unit San Miguel Holdings Corp. for its proposal to extend the TPLEX up to San Juan, La Union by 59.4 kilometers (kms).
The proposal is a four-lane toll road which will start from the last exit of TPLEX in Rosario, La Union and will terminate in San Juan, also La Union.
The project has three segments: 18 kms. from Rosario to Tubao; 23 kms. from Tubao to Naguilian and 18.4 kms. from Naguilian to San Juan, La Union.
