NEW FLYOVER. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan (fourth from left) leads the inauguration of the new Guiguinto flyover at the intersection of Plaridel Arterial Bypass Road and Guiguinto-Balagtas service road on Thursday (Oct. 10, 2024). With him in cutting the ribbon were other DPWH, local and Japanese officials. (Photo by Manny Balbin)
GUIGUINTO, Bulacan – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) opened to the public on Thursday the new four-lane Guiguinto flyover at the intersection of Plaridel Arterial Bypass Road and Guiguinto-Balagtas in Barangay Tiaong of this town.
The completed structure dubbed Flyover No. 1, which bypasses an intersection in Guiguinto town near the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Balagtas Exit, is part of the newly widened 12.5-kilometer road section under contract packages (CP) 1 and 2 of the Arterial Road Bypass Project (ARBP) Phase 3.
The inauguration held at Flyover No. 1 in Barangay Tiaong was led by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, joined by DPWH Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain, Embassy of Japan in the Philippines Second Secretary Kinoshita Akito representing Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Philippines Office Senior Representative Fukui Keisuke representing Chief Representative Sakamoto Takema, Bulacan 5th District Representative Ambrosio Cruz Jr. and Guiguinto Mayor Agatha Paula Cruz.
Bonoan said the construction of the Guiguinto flyover costing PHP227 million was part of the PHP5.26-billion Plaridel Arterial Bypass Road Phase 3 project.
He said that within the said amount, PHP4.25 billion was loaned from the official development assistance (ODA) of JICA, while the supplement of PHP1.01 billion was from the Philippine national budget issued by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
"The project aims to facilitate smoother traffic flow for thousands of daily commuters and cargo vehicles, particularly those connecting to the NLEX and the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway, commonly known as Daang Maharlika," Bonoan said.
Sadain, who is in charge of DPWH's infrastructure flagship projects, said the completion of two new lanes under Phase 3 for the entire stretch of Arterial Road Bypass Project from Barangay Borol, Balagtas all the way to Barangay Maasim, San Rafael will facilitate the south-bound traffic while the two lanes earlier completed under Phases 1 and 2 will accommodate the north-bound traffic.
"This partnership is a testament to the ongoing cooperation between the Philippines and Japan in pursuing infrastructure development for sustainable growth," Sadain said.
The newly constructed flyover and widened road are expected to accommodate around 15,000 vehicles daily, providing motorists with a more efficient route and reducing travel time across Bulacan.
Meanwhile, Kinoshita said that apart from the fact that the trip will be shortened by 24 minutes from 69 minutes for the 15,000 motorists every day, the said flyover is a testimony of the concrete friendship between the Philippines and Japan.
He said the infrastructure will also significantly contribute to the economic development of Guiguinto and neighboring towns.
Kinoshita added it perfectly fits the purpose of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to make the Philippines a fully upper middle-income country by 2028. (PNA)
