Bulacan interchange gets Palace okay

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has issued an authorization for the completion of the Balagtas-Northfood Exchange Interchange (BNEI) in Barangay San Juan, Balagtas, Bulacan.

A total of P410 million has been allocated for the civil works for the interchange and the access roads to it.

The BNEI will decongest traffic at the Bocaue toll plaza once it is done and connected to the MacArthur Highway in Balagtas, the Department of Public Works and Highways said.

This, in turn will reduce travel time for farmers and distributors of agricultural products to and from Manila, Balagtas, Guiguinto and Sta. Maria towns in Bulacan.

The interchange will connect Sta. Maria and San Jose del Monte City, benefiting the residents of Pandi, Bustos, San Rafael, Angat and adjacent areas.

Conceptualized as early as 2009 during the term of former governor Jonjon Mendoza, the BNEI will be a distribution center for agricultural products from neighboring provinces.

The construction of the interchange was stalled in 2012 when Bulacan Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado allegedly refused to issue a quarrying permit to the contractor, LR Tiqui Construction and Builders.