DAGUPAN CITY – Incumbent Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico III on Wednesday filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for reelection, hoping to continue the projects his administration started on his first term.
Guico, in an interview, said many of his administration’s programs are set for mid- and long-term completion.
"Marami (kaming) inumpisahan na gustong ipagpatuloy at ma-improve pa (We started a lot of projects that we want to continue and even improve)" he said.
Guico cited the Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEX) project with San Miguel Holdings Corp. (SMHC) as among these programs.
The provincial government has signed a joint venture and tollway concession agreements with SMHC for the construction of the PHP34-billion 42.76-km expressway project phase one.
Funded by SMHC, the project, which had a groundbreaking last March, will connect the province’s eastern and western parts.
"We intend to complete PLEX. That's a commitment from SMHC. Its already at the alignment study and (their) about to start the acquisition of road right of way.
Simultaneous to that is the planning on technical aspect of constructin of PLEX," Guico said.
The PLEX phase one has three main sections – the 7-km. stretch from Binalonan to Manaoag, the 11.3-km. stretch from Manaoag to Calasiao, and the 22.1-km. stretch from Calasiao to Lingayen, which will also have a 2.4-km. spur road in Calasiao town.
Once completed within the targeted four- to five-year construction period, the first phase of the expressway is expected to shorten travel time from the TPLEX exit in Binalonan town to Lingayen from 90 minutes to just half an hour or less.
Guico is set to face anew former Governor Amado Espino III whom he beat in the previous elections.
Espino, who is yet to file his COC, announced his plan to run for the gubernatorial race in a press conference over the weekend. (PNA)
