By Ferdinand Patinio | Philippine News Agency
On Thursday, May 8, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it is aiming for the full completion and operational connectivity between the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) in Tarlac City and Maharlika Highway in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija by July this year.
In an inspection report to DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Senior Undersecretary Emil Sadain said Contract Package 4, a 10.30-kilometer segment known as the Cabanatuan Section, is now 98 percent complete.
The field inspection, conducted on Wednesday, May 7, aimed to oversee construction activities, review engineering progress, and ensure the adherence to quality and safety standards of the project, which is under the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) Phase I.
Contract Package 4, which faced nearly two years of delay due to road right-of-way issues, is part of the 29.55-kilometer, four-lane expressway project that is expected to reduce travel time between Tarlac City and Cabanatuan City from 70 minutes to just 20 minutes, benefitting over 11,200 motorists daily.
Among its key components are an interchange, three bridges, eight reinforced concrete box culverts, seven farm passages, multiple underpasses, and asphalt pavement works.
Contract Package 5, or the Zaragoza Interchange, meanwhile, is currently 73.46 percent complete, with full completion eyed within the third quarter of 2025, according to the DPWH.
The segment involves Zaragoza Interchange Bridge measuring 113.4 linear meters, a 4.88-kilometer access road, two bridges measuring 19.4 linear meters, five equalizer reinforced concrete box culverts, two farm passages, and seven irrigation canals.
While most of CLLEX is funded through a loan agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Contract Package 5 is fully financed by the Philippine government, the DPWH said.
CLLEX is a flagship project under the government’s “Build Better More” infrastructure program and forms a key component of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas agenda.
“The initiative aims to stimulate inclusive growth, strengthen regional connectivity, and promote balanced development beyond Metro Manila,” the DPWH said.
It added that the Marcos Jr. administration continues to highlight infrastructure development as a central pillar of economic recovery and national progress under his administration.
Once completed, CLLEX Phase I is expected to provide a fast, safe, and reliable route across Central Luzon, significantly boosting logistics, reducing traffic congestion, and linking urban centers with key agricultural zones. (PNA)
