Philippines secures P37-B Japanese loan for Dalton road project
By Trixee Rosel

Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto and apan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Philippines Chief Representative Takema Sakamoto sign an agreement for the P37 billion loan that will be used or the Dalton Pass East Alignment Road Project. (photo: DPWH)
The Philippine government has secured around P37 billion loan that will finance the construction of a road project that would include the longest tunnel in the country, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said on Wednesday, March 27.
Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto and apan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Philippines Chief Representative Takema Sakamoto recently finalized the official development assistance (ODA) loan deals for the Dalton Pass East Alignment Road Project, which is part of the Marcos administration’s infrastructure flagship projects.
The 100-billion-yen loan agreement covers the first tranche for the Dalton Pass East Alignment Road Project that will connect San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, to Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya.

photo: DPWH
DPWH Senior Undersecretary Sadain said the project aims to build a new route that will serve as an alternative to the current Dalton Pass, which is frequently blocked by natural disasters. The mountain tunnel and bridges will be built with cutting-edge Japanese technologies.
"The construction of the Dalton Pass East Alignment Road Project will promote and elevate the economic and transport activities in Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, and the Cagayan Valley Region, known for its rich and vast lands and thus the major producers of rice and corn in the entire country," said Sadain.
The road project is expected to be completed by March 2032.