PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. yesterday asked San Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMHC) to complete the first phase of the extension segment of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) by 2028 along with the other sections of the projects within its schedule as he welcomed the greenlighting of the infrastructure project.
The President yesterday received the signed concession agreement for the TPLEX extension project, a four-lane toll road with five interchanges starting from the last exit of the TPLEX in Rosario, La Union up to San Juan also in La Union.
The P23.36- billion extension project is undertaken via a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Department of Public Works and Highways and SMHC with SMC TPLEX Extension Infrastructure Corp. as project concessionaire.
Marcos assured all stakeholders his administration and government’s entire machinery will provide the necessary support to complete PPP venture.
“In turn, I appeal to San Miguel Holdings Corp. to complete the TPLEX extension segment 1 by 2028 and all other sections as scheduled,” he said.
The 59.4-kilometer TPLEX extension, once completed, will reduce travel time between Rosario and San Juan in La Union from 90 minutes to around 40 minutes and provide new high-quality roadway infrastructure between the Ilocos and Cordillera regions, Central Luzon and Metro Manila.
It is expected to help spur economic growth along the expressway corridor by encouraging the development or establishment of new growth hubs as well as boost trade and tourism as it would bring in tourists and economic activities more quickly to the northern part of the country, and at the same time, expedite the delivery of resources and food faster to the southern parts of Luzon.
“So, we also expect (it) to forge value-adding partnerships among agriculture, industry, and tourism enterprises in the area as it links vital regional corridors and hubs. This will, of course, generate a significant number of decent jobs and more opportunities for all,” Marcos said.
