President Marcos has committed to address all issues arising from the construction of the entire Arterial Road Bypass Project in Bulacan.
Marcos made the statement in his speech during the inauguration of the road projects' phase III on Monday, Oct. 9.
"As you (Department of Public Works and Highways) move forward with this project, ensure that all outstanding issues—particularly those pertaining to the road right-of-way—will be addressed promptly," the President vowed in his message delivered by Special Assistant to the President Antonio Ernesto Floirendo Lagdameo Jr.
He also assured the public that the current administration "remains unwavering in our commitment to complete the ARBP III by March 2024."
"We will continue to address all the issues and challenges we encounter even as we strive to hasten the construction activities for the completion of this project," Marcos said.
In his message, he stressed the crucial role of the project in transforming the Plaridel Bypass Road which aims to offer a convenient alternative route from Balagtas to San Rafael in Bulacan.
The addition of two lanes, he said, will enable the road to accommodate more motorists, reducing travel time between the municipalities from more than an hour to just 24 minutes.
"With the enhanced road capacity and the substantially shortened travel time, this project will revolutionize not only the movement of people, but also of agricultural products and services, thereby boosting the productivity of the farming industry in Bulacan," he said.
"In time, this will attract even more investments, create more employment opportunities, and perpetuate a positive cycle of development that will benefit the province of Bulacan and its residents," he added.
The President also recognized the contribution of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in funding the project.
"[W]e extend our heartfelt gratitude for your support in this critical project. JICA has long been a steadfast partner in our journey to improve our infrastructure, and we hope for continued collaboration in our future endeavors," Marcos said.
The 22.4-kilometer ARBP III involves the widening of the existing Plaridel Bypass Road in Bulacan from two lanes to four lanes.
The project, which includes the construction of 10 bridges and three flyovers, is primarily funded through an Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan from the JICA.
It has a total project cost of P5.26 billion, P4.25 billion of which is covered by the JICA Loan Agreement, while the remaining P1.01 billion is shouldered by the Philippine government.
Contract Packages 3 and 4 were completed on March 31, 2021, and April 30, 2023, respectively. Contract Package 3 was opened to traffic in July 2021.
Meanwhile, Contract Packages 1 and 2 were 63.09 percent accomplished as of end of September, and are targeted to be completed by March 2024.
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