President Marcos Jr. yesterday inaugurated the P7.5-billion North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Candaba 3rd Viaduct project in Pulilan, Bulacan which will help reduce traffic congestion, and will ensure faster and more efficient travel.
The viaduct is thus expected to boost connectivity and open business opportunities and tourism activities in Central Luzon.
The five-kilometer viaduct, built and operated by the NLEX Corp. and the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., will accommodate over 80,000 motorists daily. It serves as a critical link between Metro Manila and Central Luzon and connects the towns of Pulilan in Bulacan and Apalit in Pampanga.
Marcos said in his speech the viaduct is designed to withstand the challenges of nature, the demands of time, and is poised to serve the people for decades.
“Let us build infrastructure projects with future challenges in mind. Remain focused on pursuing initiatives that uplift lives, build communities, and most importantly, meet the needs of the future that we hope to build for our children and their children,” Marcos said in encouraging investing in similar projects.
Marcos, during the event, assured the public the Department of Transportation and the Toll Regulatory Board are implementing all measures to ease congestion and ensure smoother travel in the country’s toll roads especially during the upcoming holiday season.
He said the timing of the inauguration “could not be more opportune” as the bridge becomes even more crucial with the influx of holiday travelers.
From Pampanga, the President went to San Fernando town where he led the groundbreaking ceremony for the Bagong Pilipinas Cancer Care Center of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) Hospital.
The construction of the center, located on the second level of the hospital, will begin in January 2025 and is expected to be completed by November 2025.
It is targeted to be operational in the first quarter of 2026.
The center can accommodate up to 64 cancer patients and provide various treatment modalities, including chemotherapy, diagnostic and staging services, and surgical oncology, among others.
