SAN RAFAEL, Bulacan — Sec. Antonio Lagdameo Jr. of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President, led the inauguration ceremony for the new two westbound lanes of the Japan-assisted Arterial Bypass Road Project in this town on October 9.

Joining Lagdameo in the pass-through ceremony were Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Kashikawa, Public Works and Highways Sec. Manuel Bonoan, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) chief representative Takema Sakamoto and Bulacan Vice Gov. Alex Castro.

Lagdameo, who represented President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., delivered the speech of the Chief Executive saying the project is an important step towards the realization of a dream of a better Philippines.

The President cited that infrastructure development, particularly transportation, is crucial to the sustain progress of our economy as it improves the movement of people, goods and services.

The Chief Executive noted that in his Second State of the Nation Address, he made a clear commitment to open more transportation gateways to different corners of the country and the said project is part of the fulfillment of that commitment.

The project involved the expansion of the existing two-lane road to four lanes to catch up with the increasing volume of traffic in the area.

Secretary Bonoan explained that the inaugurated section covering the construction of 7.64-kilometer road including 36.86 meter single-span bridge and a 318-meter flyover form part of the Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase 3, contract package 4.

Started sometime in 2020 and continued on despite encountering several challenges, such as delays due to two years of pandemic restrictions, right of way acquisition, limited project funding and other unforeseen circumstances.

“The additional lanes provided will address traffic congestion and enhance economic activities of the entire Province of Bulacan,” Bonoan added.

On the other hand, Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain, in-charge of DPWH infrastructure flagship projects, from the initial stage of two-lane two-way traffic under Phase 1 and 2, the Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase 3 funded by loan agreement No. PH-P266 between the Government of the Philippines and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) involves widening of the entire 24.61 kilometer stretch of Arterial Road Bypass Project traversing the five municipalities of Balagtas, Guiguinto, Plaridel, Bustos, and San Rafael.

The widened portion of the bypass road now stretches 9.97 kilometers with the 2.22-kilometer contract package 3 including one of Luzon’s longest bridges across the Angat River in Bustos, Bulacan completed in 2021.

In line with “Build Better More” infrastructure development agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the DPWH targets to finish by first half of 2024 the ongoing contract packages 1 and 2 which will cover the remaining 12.5 kilometers the project currently 64.28 percent completed.

Arterial Bypass Road Project linked the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) at station 34 + 900 in Barangay Burol, Balagtas, Bulacan with the Maharlika Highway to station 57 + 366 in Barangay Maasim, San Rafael.

Photo: Mon Lazaro