Even in his last month as leader of Laguna province, outgoing Governor Ramil Hernandez made one more lasting contribution to ensure the continued socio-economic growth of the province.
This took the form of the Calamba-Bay Bypass Road, a new road project that is expected to halve travel time within the province and boost economic opportunities in a region that is now fast becoming industrialized and urbanized.
Governor Hernandez joined outgoing Vice Governor Karen Agapay, outgoing 2nd District Representative Ruth Mariano-Hernandez, and officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the private sector at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Calamba-Bay Bypass Road held last June 11 at Barangay Tagumpay, Bay, Laguna.
Long overdue
In his message during the event, Hernandez expressed his elation at the fact that the project is now moving forward after eight long years of being put on hold.
To recall, Hernandez, in May 2018, first signed a joint venture agreement (JVA) with the Ecotoll Road Development Corporation (ERCD) to construct the 15-kilometer bypass toll road that will link Calamba City with the town of Bay.
However, as the governor explained, the project was continuously delayed due to several problems that had cropped up during the planning stage, particularly in the alignment of the project.
It was not until 2023 that both the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) issued "no objection" resolutions to the final revised alignment, while the Notice to Proceed was issued by the provincial government on April 28, 2025.
Connections
The P44-billion Calamba-Bay Bypass Road is a 15-kilometer, four-lane toll road that will span from the Canlubang-Cadre Road in Calamba City, Laguna to Masapang Highway in Bay, Laguna, passing by Los Baños.
At least 10.8 kilometers of the road will consist of a viaduct spanning Laguna de Bay from Calamba City to Bay, which officials claim will be the longest bridge in the Philippines once completed.
The Calamba-Bay Bypass Road will also connect to the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network (LLRN), a DPWH project that will span the shore of Laguna de Bay from Taguig City to Calamba City.
According to Reghis Romero II, chairman of ERCD, the new toll road is expected to improve access to the lesser-developed towns in the eastern portion of Laguna province.
"This bypass road is more than a piece of structure; it is a lifeline of opportunity especially for the underserved municipalities in the eastern part of Laguna," Romero said.
He added that ERCD had brought in engineers and structural experts from South Korea and Japan to ensure the structural integrity of the viaduct, which will incorporate an "iconic" design.
"The involvement of these designers ensures that our project is not only structurally sound and forward-looking but also at par with international standards," Romero said.
Overall benefits
Once completed, the new toll road is expected to accommodate over 33,000 vehicles a day during the first year of operation, slashing travel time from Calamba City to Bay from two hours to just over 20 minutes.
Officials, however, pointed out that the new road's economic benefits will be manifested in more than faster travel time.
"What excites us more is the impact... We are talking about better access to jobs, healthcare and a big boost to tourism and local enterprise," Engr. Victor Songco, president of ERDC, emphasized.
Officials also explained that the new road will also generate income for the provincial government not only in terms of added revenue from local enterprises but also from the toll road itself.
According to the JVA between the provincial government and the ERCD, the provincial government will receive a share of the gross revenue collected from tolls at a rate of 0.5 percent for the first eight years of operation or until the traffic projection reaches 700,000 vehicles a day, and one percent of the gross revenue after that.
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