The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said that it has implemented infrastructure projects that will spur economic development and provide the delivery of better public services in Bulacan. DPWH noted that it has constructed a new four-storey multi-purpose building (MPB) that serves as a community-based government center in Meycauayan, Bulacan. In a report to DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, DPWH Regional Office 3 Director Roseller A. Tolentino stated that the completion of the government center has brought the government closer to the people. He explained that the project supervised by the DPWH Bulacan Second District Engineering Office under District Engineer George Santos has provided convenience to the public in their government-related transactions while easing the delivery of social services in the affected communities. The newly-constructed government center has an elevator for easier mobility in visiting local offices of national government agencies occupying the building. Aside from housing local counterparts of national government agencies, the building also has a chapel that can be used as a venue for religious activities or for private devotion. The P28.66-million structure was funded under the 2021 General Appropriations Act (GAA). The DPWH is also rushing the completion of the access road in the eastern section of Bulacan in a bid to further spur economic development. DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain explained that the construction of two new westbound travel lanes from the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) at station 34+900 in Barangay Burol, Balagtas to station 57+366 in Barangay Maasim, San Rafael will bring “trickling economic benefits especially that the traversed area has transformed into commercial and industrial centers creating jobs for the people of Bulacan and adjacent province of Nueva Ecija in Central Luzon.’’ He noted that the manpower and equipment of two civil work contractors are working full blast on the construction of additional two lanes for the final stage of the 22.46-kilometer Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase 3 or most commonly known as Plaridel Bypass Road. Sadain, who is in-charge of the DPWH flagship projects under the “Build Better More” program, inspected the road widening on March 22  and noted significant progress particularly at the 7.74 kilometer contract package 4 which is more than 96 percent and will be completed by April 2023. Aside from Sadain, also present at the inspection were Project Director Benjamin A. Bautista and Project Managers Basilio Elumba and Hermie Sablan of DPWH Unified Project Management Office-Roads Management Cluster 1 (Bilateral). “Other than concrete paving works with a thickness of 35-centimeter on a 20-centimeter cement treated base, contract package 4 under Sino Road and Bridge Group Co. Ltd. also involves the construction of single span 37-meter Bridge No. 8 and a 318-meter Flyover No. 4,’’ the DPWH said. Both the bridge and flyover are substantially completed after interventions were made to resolve the problems encountered by the project particularly on the hauling of aggregates and other construction materials. Meanwhile, the DPWH urged CM Pancho Construction Inc. to rush the construction works for the 12.5-kilometer contract packages 1 and 2 “by taking advantage of the favorable weather condition with simultaneous implementation of activities on different sites.’’ More than 7.7-kilometer or about 61 percent of the portland concrete cement paving works for contract packages 1 and 2 were already completed. “Similar to the concrete paving works for the additional two lanes with carriageway width of seven meters in contract package 4, contract packages 1 and 2 to be completed by Feb. 2024 also includes construction of seven moderate/short bridges with a net length of 260 meters, two overpass/flyover, extension of 10 concrete box underpass for farm equipment and animal crossing, 13 reinforced concrete box culvert, and 16 at-grade intersections,’’ the DPWH bared. The Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase 3 is funded by the loan agreement number PH-P266 between the Government of the Philippines (GOP) and Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).