Marcos reiterates pledge to push PH’s infra dev’t

By Charles Dantes and Vito Barcelo

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has reiterated his commitment to vigorously push his infrastructure development program as he led the inauguration of three road projects in Alicia, Zamboanga Sibugay on Friday.

“We will continue to build roads, bridges, ports, and airports all over the country so we can bring Filipinos closer together,” the President said in his opening address.

The three road projects with a total of 69 kilometers were part of the P25.26billion Improving Corridors in Mindanao Road Sector Project (IGCMRSP) designed to spur the region’s economy.

“After four years since it started finally, we are here to open the three

A CHILD’S SMILE IS PRICELESS. Philanthropist James Adalla cuddles a baby in his arms, one of many who were treated of cleft palates during a medical mission in Makati City organized by the Operation Smile Philippines and bankrolled by his P500,000donation. Norman Cruz core projects that originally formed the backbone of the IGCMRSP. I’d like to note that these projects have expanded from their original scope to include additional road and bridge developments across the Zamboanga Peninsula out to Tawi-Tawi,” the Chief Executive said. Marcos said his administration is determined to push for more infrastructure projects to boost the interconnectivity in the country.

The three newly opened projects were the Alicia-Malangas Road with eight bridges and the Lutiman-Guicam-Olutanga Road, both in Zamboanga Sibugay, and the TampilisanSandayong Road with three bridges in Zamboanga del Norte.

Stronger connectivity has been a huge part of the administration’s Philippine Development Plan- 2023-2028 and the 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda.

The IGMRSP, with a total length of 154.96 kilometers (km), centered on the construction and improvement of 151.60 km of roads and 34 bridges spanning 3,374.87 linear meters (lm) in the Zamboanga Peninsula and Tawi-Tawi.

The project was divided into three core projects, five non-core projects, and three bridge projects.

TOLL HIKE PROTEST.

A convoy of organized truck drivers roll down the Bonifacio Drive in Port Area, Manila to drum up support for their protest against toll hikes at the North Luzon Expressway. Norman Cruz

200-truck convoy stages protest vs. NLEX toll hikes

A CONVOY of some 200 trucks clogged Bonifacio Drive from Anda Circle in Intramuros to the Manila North Harbor on Friday to oppose the increase in toll rates at the North Luzon Expressway.

The parade caused major traffic jams that lasted for hours.

According to the Alliance of Concerned Truck Owners and Organizations (ACTOO), the toll hike is “unjustifiable and unfair” to motorists given the “worsening conditions” along the expressway. They also deplored the timing of the toll increase, which they said is contrary to the government’s directives of reducing logistics costs since it will affect inflation.

The NLEX toll hike went into effect last June 15. The group said they have submitted an opposition letter to the Toll Regulatory Board.

Policemen and traffic enforcers were deployed to control traffic and ensure peace and order during the protest action. The NLEX Corp., which manages the tollway, has yet to comment on the protest as of posting time.

The company said earlier that an additional P7 would be collected in the open system beginning June 15, while P0.36 per kilometer would be collected in the closed system. The Toll Regulatory Board has approved the rate adjustment.

Under the new toll fee matrix, an additional P7 will be charged on Class 1 vehicles, P17 for Class 2 vehicles, and P19 for Class 3 vehicles — the category that includes trucks.

Those traveling the whole stretch of NLEX between Metro Manila and Mabalacat City will pay an additional P33 for Class 1, P81 for Class 2, and P98 for Class 3 vehicles.

The open system covers the cities of Navotas, Valenzuela, and Caloocan in Metro Manila Manila and Meycauayan and Marilao in Bulacan province.