Veteran broadcaster and Mabalacat City mayoral candidate Deng Pangilinan has vowed to pursue the opening of the northern extension of the Clark-Mabalacat-Angeles Road (CMAR) along the east perimeter fence of the Clark Freeport Zone.
The northern portion of CMAR starts from the Mabalacat Gate to Barangay San Joaquin to the north. Its construction was finished in 2016.
“Dapat po na mabuksan ang CMAR para mabawasan ang traffic sa Mabalacat City lalo na pagdating ng rush hours, umabot ng apat na taon hanggang ngayon di pa rin binubuksan ng Garbo administration.” according to Pangilinan. “Matagal ng white elephant ang project na ito dahil hindi ito binuksan ni Mayor Cris Garbo.”
The perennial traffic in Mabalacat City was not solved because of the failure of Garbo to open CMAR, said Pangilinan.
Motorists usually clogged at the Mabalacat Gate during rush hours to the consternation of motorists, the commuting public and residents of Sitio Agusu in Barangay San Francisco where motorists are rerouted.
The opening of the CMAR extension and construction of the exit leading to the MacArthur Highway will decongest Brgy San Francisco since motorists exiting Clark Freeport heading north will no longer have to pass through the Mabalacat City downtown area. Only motorists exiting the Mabalacat Gate going to the North Luzon Expressway can now pass through the downtown area.
The CMAR north extension which has a bridge component was funded by Clark Development Corporation (CDC) remains closed which prompted Pangilinan to describe it as a white elephant.