Noy inaugurates Tarlac section of P24-B TPLEX

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino yesterday led the inauguration of a finished section of the P24-billion Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), the country’s first all-Filipino funded and implemented expressway, which he described as a blessing and a splendid Christmas gift for the people.

The finished section of the TPLEX ran through Tarlac City and the towns of Gerona and Paniqui.

In October, the project's 17-kilometer phase 1A from Tarlac City to Victoria Pura and Gerona was opened to the public.

Work is ongoing on the 27-kilometer stretch from paniqui toMoncada in Tarlac, and Carmen in Pangasinan.

Aquino expressed joy after hearing the project would be completed three years ahead of schedule as he led the inaugural drive-through in Ramos, Tarlac before unveiling a project marker at the toll operation center in Barangay San Pascual, Tarlac City.

The event was attended by Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson, San Miguel Corp. (SMC) president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang, and Tarlac Rep. Enrique Cojuanco.

The project proponent, Private Infra Development Corp. (PIDC), is a unit of SMC.

Aquino said TPLEX would cut travel time to the northern areas significantly.

“Areas like the Hundred Islands are now accessible. Baguio and the surrounding areas in the CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region) suddenly seems like but a short trip away,” Aquino said.

A total of 23 kilometers of the TPLEX have so far been opened to motorists, including the section inaugurated yesterday.

Ang said they could complete the TPLEX by 2015 or three years ahead of schedule.

Aquino said he was looking forward to more partnerships with Ang and the rest of the private sector.

With the opening of the TPLEX’s Paniqui exit, travel time to Tarlac City would be cut to 30 minutes from one hour and a half without traffic congestion.

Once Section 1 of TPLEX is completed next year, Aquino said it would only take 30 minutes to reach Rosales, Pangasinan from Tarlac City, instead of the usual two hours.

Once completed, the 88.8-kilometer TPLEX would cut travel time from Tarlac City to La Union to one hour from three-and-a-half hours at present, Aquino said.

The President said TPLEX would benefit not just tourism but trade and commerce as well, as it would open opportunities for the people.

By the time he steps down from office in 2016, Aquino said he would be enjoying traveling through TPLEX as an ordinary citizen from Tarlac. – With Ding Cervantes