August 1, 2025 is set to be remembered as one momentous day in the history of San Pedro City, Laguna.
That was the day when, after more than a decade of planning, development and construction, the city’s northbound exit to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) was finally opened to the public.
Incumbent and former local officials – incumbent San Pedro City Mayor Art Mercado; former Mayor Lourdes Cataquiz (under whose watch the exit was formally kickstarted in 2018); incumbent 1st District Representative Ann Matibag; former 1st District Representative and incumbent Santa Rosa City Mayor Arlene Arcillas; Biñan City Representative Arman Dimaguila; and Laguna Governor Sol Aragones – formally graced the much-anticipated opening of the SLEX San Pedro City northbound exit near the Magsaysay Road overpass.
They were joined by officials of the national government, led by Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon; Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan; and Toll Regulatory Board Executive Director Jose Arturo Tugade; as well as officials from the San Miguel Corporation (SMC), operators of the SLEX.
Faster access
The formal opening of the SLEX San Pedro Exit was a cause of celebration for San Pedrense motorists who are now assured of a faster, more accessible route to Metro Manila.
Prior to the opening of the new exit, San Pedrenses have to go to either Susana Heights Exit in Muntinlupa City or the Southwoods Exit in Biñan City to get to the SLEX’s northbound portion.
“The situation for our motorists is very challenging because there is no way out of San Pedro, there are roads leading into the city, but none for going out. This is the essence of the ‘Build Better More’ initiative of our president, it’s at the core of this project. We really need to make the lives of our motorists and commuters more convenient,” Transportation Secretary Dizon was quoted as saying.
The new exit is expected to accommodate over 5,000 to 10,000 vehicles daily and bring much-needed economic opportunities to Laguna’s “Dormitory City.”
San Pedro City Mayor Mercado, for instance, touted in his speech that the new access road will bring pilgrims closer to one of the city’s top-drawing tourist and pilgrimage sites, the Diocesan Shrine of the Holy Sepulchre (popularly known as Lolo Uweng Shrine) in Barangay Landayan.
Will it pay off?
But the big question now is: can the new exit offset the exorbitant costs of building the new exit, not to mention the lost potential of San Pedro City due to staggering delays in implementing the project?
This, as it was noted by an article by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) that the new interchange was “implemented by the DPWH Regional Office IV-A and the Laguna 2nd District Engineering Office through multi-year contracts beginning in 2018.”
That article did not point out (but OpinYon Laguna did, in its own banner story way back in March 2024) that the implementation was repeatedly stalled in the past six years.
Documents provided by Representative Matibag’s office to OpinYon Laguna during the time showed how the northbound toll plaza was constructed in what appeared to be a "stop-and-go" manner since it was started in 2018.
For instance, the first phase of the project, costing around P250 million, was finished in 2018, but the next phase, costing P100 million, was shelved and the "funds reverted" back to the DPWH.
It was not until 2024 that the final three stages of the construction of the exit were finally given the go-ahead after several delays due to right-of-way issues.
To top it off, the opening of the exit, originally slated for July 28, was itself delayed after weeklong rains brought by the southwest monsoon battered Laguna province.
And the total cost of constructing the interchange: a whopping P915 million in a span of nearly seven years.
The big question San Pedrenses should ask now: is that cost worth it for the millions in potential economic revenues that were lost in the seven-year delays in implementing the project?
LGU is ready
By the way, the city government of San Pedro has assured motorists that measures have been put in place to ensure a smooth traffic flow along the vicinity of the Magsaysay Road overpass.
"Bago pa po magbukas ang ating San Pedro northbound exit ay pinag-aralan na po ng ating Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) kung ano po ang ating gagawin hinggil sa lagay ng trapiko sa naturang lugar," Mercado said in a separate interview with OpinYon Laguna.
The city executive, however, pointed out that traffic jams will be inevitable during the first few weeks as motorists adjust to the new traffic scheme at the exit.
"Nevertheless, nandiyan po ang mga tauhan ng POSO para mag-assist sa ating mga motorista, and we'll find ways and solutions to prevent yung buildup ng traffic sa nasabing lugar," Mercado added.
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