TRANSPORTATION Sec. Arthur Tugade is convinced that the best way to make Filipinos’ lives convenient, comfortable and consequently progressive, was to complete all the big-ticket projects that were spelled out in the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program.
"What better way of making Filipinos' lives convenient and comfortable than by doing all these infrastructures?"
Secretary Arthur Tugade made that rhetorical poser during the inauguration of the fourth section of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) at Silang, Cavite last August 24.
Fulfilling a promise
For Tugade, the main goal of the massive “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program is to fulfill the administration’s goal of a providing a comfortable life for every Filipino.
And with the completion of the fourth section of the CALAX up to the Silang East Interchange, motorists from Laguna and Cavite are now assured of faster and safer travel, which Tugade hopes will translate into economic progress in the Calabarzon region.
Newly-opened segment
With the completion of the Silang East of CALAX, motorists can now travel from Mamplasan in Biñan City, Laguna up to Silang East, exiting at Tibig Road, in Silang, Cavite.
The newly -opened Silang East Interchange will be serving 5,000 motorists and help decongest traffic coming from Governor’s Drive, Aguinaldo Highway, and Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road, according to officials of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the operators of CALAX.
“We are grateful for the trust and continued partnership with the government of the Philippines in providing the much-needed mobility infrastructure in the form of CALAX to help boost tourism and economic activity in the CALABARZON Region,” MPT South President and General Manager Roberto Bontia said.
Almost complete
With the opening of the Silang East segment, the 18.1-kilometer Laguna section of the CALAX, which will end at the Silang (Aguinaldo Highway) Interchange, is now 89.7 percent complete, Bontia reported.
Meanwhile, the acquisition for the right-of-way for the segment is now 93.9 percent complete, while, the 3.9-kilometer segment up to the Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange is now one-fourth (25 percent) complete.
“We are expecting po na makakadagdag po ito [sa volume] ng about 5,000 vehicles a day,” the MPT official said, adding that the toll road operator expects the entire CALAX system to be fully opened to the public by 2023.
Green and sustainable
CALAX has been designed to be a green and sustainable highway, MPTC officials said.
Aside from the array of flora and green spaces that surrounds the expressway, which is intended to absorb carbon emissions of vehicles, the expressway also uses LED lighting systems, and renewable solar energy to power its toll plazas, toll equipment and systems, and operations management center.
“We are laying the groundwork here for mobility and connectivity,” Tugade stressed during his speech.
The transportation secretary also expressed his gratitude to MPTC and other major toll road operators who have partnered with the government to make the administration’s vision of “mobility and connectivity” a reality.
"You, the MVP Group of Companies...provides the framework through which the Philippines can achieve what we call the 'Golden Age' of infrastructure," he added.
Luzon Spine Expressway
Once completed, MPTC officials expect the 45-kilometer CALAX to become part of a bigger toll road system collectively called the Luzon Spine Expressway Network, a master plan aimed at increasing the high standard highway network in Luzon Island.
This priority initiative of the Duterte administration will more than triple the length of high standard expressways in Luzon Island from the existing 382 kilometers to 905 kilometers, all the way from the Ilocos region to the Bicol provinces.
From 20 to 9 hours travel
When the entire network is realized, the 20-hour travel between Ilocos and Bicol will be drastically reduced to only nine hours.
“We are now closer to our dream of connecting the northernmost part of Luzon to its southernmost portion. We are confident that we will be able to deliver majority of this high-impact project within the term of President Rodrigo Duterte," Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, for his part said during the ceremony.
“More than providing efficient transportation links, the CALAX project under public-private partnership arrangement with the MPCALA Holdings - a unit of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, will help hasten economic recovery by providing jobs and promote the Calabarzon as a preferred destination for investment and growth,” Villar added.
Onward to progress
As it is, despite all the challenges brought by the still raging coronavirus pandemic, both the transportation and public works and highways departments, have not skipped a beat in completing assigned mandates.
The challenges were daunting but with hard work and determination, the Duterte administration’s dream of creating a more progressive Philippines will soon become a reality.
Especially, with committed and dedicated implementers like Secretaries Tugade and Villar.