Hagonoy, Bulacan Mayor Flordeliza C. "Baby" Manlapaz on Monday, May 29, assured six village chiefs and their constituents that no family will be displaced due to the construction of the Northern Access Link Expressway (NALEX) project.
Manlapaz said the NALEX, an expressway that will lead to the New Manila International Airport project (NMIA), will be realigned or redesigned by San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and the route will no longer be constructed on the locations of the houses of the families or might no longer pass Hagonoy.
Present during the meeting were Hagonoy Vice Mayor Mendoza, Sangguniang Bayan members Milord Cruz, Tina Perez, Elmer Santos, Darwin Cruz, Amber Villanueva, Jay Ar Manlapaz, lawyer Baby Ople, and Cris Baluyot; Sangguniang Kabataan President Carlo Cudia and Barangay Captains Ronnie Mateo of Barangay San Isidro, Ronald Arellano of San Miguel, Enok Casaje of Palapat, Ellen Mercado of Abulalas, Catalino Manalo of Carillo, Enrico Cruz, of San Juan, and the representatives of NO to NALEX headed by Leah Sinag.
Sinag thanked the Hagonoy local government unit (LGU) for its support that paved the way for the "saving" of Barangays Abulalas, Carillo, Palapat, San Juan, San Isidro. and San Miguel.
The leader of the NO to NALEX movement said they heard the good news from their mayor and vice mayor and Sangguniang Bayan members and barangay captains.
Sinag clarified that their protest against the NALEX project is not to prevent the progress of the province of Bulacan as well as their hometown of Hagonoy but to ensure the proximity of the project which must have a positive effect on economics and ease the transportation system.
ANSWERED PRAYERS -- No to NALEX leader Leah Sinag, of Barangay San Juan (seated left) and her group after the meeting called for by Hagonoy, Bulacan Mayor Flordeliza C. "Baby" Manlapaz and Vice Mayor Rosario Sy-Mendoza which was attended by Sangguniang Bayan Members and village chairmen of Abulalas, Carillo, Palapat, San Juan, San Isidro. and San Miguel. (Photo courtesy of Marcel Bayan)
It will be recalled that the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) approved the first-ever expressway direct to NMIA.
According to TRB Executive Director Alvin Carullo, the TRB has already released the Supplementary Toll Operation Agreement of the project officially called NALEX.
The P148 billion project will be funded by SMC Infrastructure which was given the concession to invest, build, and operate the NALEX.
Department of Public Works And Highway (DPWH) Region 3 Director Roseller Tolentino said the NALEX will provide a wide and fast road going to the new airport.