NIGHT OWL
Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo
If you are a thalassophile like me, then you’d love the upcoming opening of Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), an 89.31 km expressway connecting Tarlac, Pangasinan, and La Union.
Whether you’re surfing in San Juan or cliff-diving in Tangadan Falls in San Gabriel or hanging by the kitchen bar of Flotsam & Jetsam, the completion of the new section from Pozorrubio in Pangasinan to Rosario in La Union this 2019 will make your travel more efficient by almost 50%.
The project, which was partially opened in December, 2017, starts from Tarlac City and traverses Gerona in Tarlac, Rosales, Urdaneta, and Pozzorubio in Pangasinan and Rosario in La Union.
When completed, it is expected to reduce travel time from Manila to La Union from 6 hours to only 3.5 hours. It is also expected to cut travel time from Tarlac to La Union from 3.5 hours to just an hour, benefitting an average of 20,000 vehicles per day.
The TPLEX is part of the Luzon Spine Expressway Network, a 1,040 km expressway network which would connect the northern and southern most part of Luzon. By building a total of 18 expressways with a total road length of 655 km, we aim to compliment the existing expressway network spanning 385 km.
Alternate route to Kennon Road
TPLEX is expected to compliment the Aringay-Tubao Alternate Road and the Laoag Bypass, which was opened last December, 2018.
The Aringay-Tubao Alternate Road is a 14.24-km road section along Aringay-Tubao, La Union, which will facilitate a scenic travel to Asin Hotspring in Tuba, Benguet, and Baguio City.
The project effectively reduced travel time from Tuba, La Union, to Benguet from 2 hours to only 35 minutes. It also shortened travel time to Baguio City by 50% percent.
The Laoag City Bypass is a 7.99-km four-lane highway project designed to divert traffic at Laoag City proper and reduce travel time from 45 minutes to only 10 minute from the west central part of Ilocos Norte.
6,157 km of national roads opened
According to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar, a total of 6,157 kilometers of national roads were constructed, maintained, improved, and rehabilitated from July, 2016, to December, 2018.
Under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines budgeted around 5.4% of GDP for infrastructure development, which is more than twice the 2.5% average for the past six administrations.