Officials of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and the local government unit (LGU) of Pangasinan have signed a joint venture agreement (JVA) that will pave the way for the construction of the 76.80-kilometer Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEX) project.
According to SMC President and CEO Ramon S. Ang, PLEX will begin at the company-owned Tarlac-Pangsasinan-La Union Expressway that will expand the road networks in Central and Northern Luzon.
“We are grateful to the Pangasinan provincial government for their passion and commitment to boost Pangasinense life through this landmark project. More than just building a major infrastructure project, we have an opportunity to improve the lives of so many of our countrymen here,” Ang said following the signing ceremonies.
According to SMC, PLEX will consist of two phases: Phase 1 will extend 42.76 km. from Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) to Lingayen, while Phase 2 will extend all the way to Alaminos, Pangasinan.
Phase 1 of PLEX will be split into three segments: the first 6.90-km section from Binalonan to Manaoag, followed by an 11.30-km section from Manaoag to Calasiao, and the third segment, the 22.17-km section from Calasiao to Lingayen.
A 2.39-km spur road will also be buit in Calasiao. Meanwhile, Phase 2 of the project will be a demand-driven expansion all the way to Alaminos, Pangasinan.
Pangasinan Governor Ramon V. Guico III lauded the partnership, underscoring the project’s role in helping spur economic activity in the province and unlocking growth in different parts of Pangasinan.
“Through the PLEX, we shall have a very systematic approach in navigating Pangasinan, creating a roadmap never before imagined possible for our province,” said Guico III, adding that Phase 1 of the project would reduce travel time from Binalonan to Lingayen to just 20-30 minutes from the current 1 hour 30 to 1 hour and 45 minutes.
“PLEX is one of the most important projects, a game-changer for Pangasinan and for this administration. This is because it is envisioned to reinvent the transportation and enrich the tourism landscape; prioritize accessibility of citizens to major towns and cities, magnify business and livelihood opportunities, multiply economic activity, build more infrastructure, and protect the environment,” he added.