Traveling to the eastern portion of Bulacan is expected to be faster as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) led by Secretary Mark Villar and some government officials formally inaugurate the P260-million new NLEX Philippine Arena Interchange located in Barangay Igulot in Bocaue, Bulacan.
The new interchange aims to improve mobility and accessibility within the Bulacan road network particularly in the towns of Bocaue, Sta. Maria, Pandi, Norzagaray, Angat, and other nearby towns.
An inaugural drive-thru of the new interchange was led by Sec. Villar, Senator Joel Villanueva, Senator Francis Tolentino, House Majority Leader Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando, Bocaue Mayor Eleonor Villanueva, Toll Regulatory Board Executive Director Abraham P. Sales, Iglesia ni Cristo Head Legal Counsel Atty. Glicerio P. Santos IV, and NLEX Corporation Senior Vice President for Communication and Stakeholder Management Atty. Romulo S. Quimbo Jr.
The project worth P260.8 million was implemented by the DPWH Regional Office III that started on January 29, 2019 and completed on November 24.
Initially, the section from Philippine Arena to the southbound side of NLEX will open on November 29, while the southbound section (from north of NLEX) going to the Philippine Arena will open on November 30 only for the SEA Games Opening Ceremony to give way to the remaining works of the interchange project.
The Philippine Arena Interchange features an 80-lineal meter bridge which connects Bocaue Municipal Hall, NLEX, Ciudad de Victoria, and Bocaue-Sta. Maria Bypass Road. It also has a northbound entry and exit toll plaza and soon, a southbound toll plaza for better accessibility.
“The Philippine Arena Interchange is just one of our priority projects in Bulacan to help ease mounting traffic along Governor F. Halili Road in Bocaue-Sta.Maria and address the usual heavy traffic situation at the Bocaue Interchange,” said Secretary Villar.
“We also expect this new road to further accelerate trade and commerce within the province,” he added.
Eventually, a 1.91-kilometer road from MacArthur Highway to Bocaue Municipal will be improved and a 1.3-kilometer road from the Philippine Arena to the existing Patubig Road in Marilao, Bulacan will be constructed.
“We are excited with this project that will further improve the roads leading to the Philippine Arena, especially now that we are hosting the 30th Southeast Asian Games Opening Ceremony,” said Villar.
Touted as the world’s largest indoor arena, the 55,000-seat Philippine Arena is a venue for international sports and entertainment events. It is part of the Ciudad de Victoria, a tourism enterprise zone in Bocaue and Sta. Maria.
For his part, NLEX Corporation President and General Manager J Luigi L. Bautista affirmed that “NLEX is keen on supporting the government’s infrastructure plan as it also provides travel convenience for motorists using the expressway system and opens up opportunities for local communities.”
Meanwhile, construction is also underway for the southbound entry as well as northbound entry and exit toll plazas that will form the Tambubong Interchange. This new road will reduce travel time and provide another access for motorists coming from NLEX going to eastern parts of Bulacan and vice versa.
For his part, Gov. Fernando said that the said project will not only generate job opportunities to Bulakenyos but it will also boost the economy of the province as the new international airport follows and about to construct in the town of Bulakan.
“This is really indeed a huge blessing for our province including other developments like the New Manila International Airport that soon to be constructed next year,” Fernando said.
Senator Joel Villanueva and his sister Mayor Eleanor “Joni” Villanueva-Tugna were thankful for the Bocaue Interchange as they expressed they 1,000% full support to the Build, Build, Build program of Duterte’s administration.
“Importante ito para tayo ay lumago, ito ay tagumpay ng bawat mamamayang pilipino, Mayor Tugna said.
Meanwhile, Tugna said that she issued an Executive Order No. 28 prohibiting the manufacture, selling and transportation of any pyrotechnic and firecrackers and devices starting on November 30 to December 1 to maintain peace and order, protection of the life, liberty and property and promotion of general welfare in connection with the Sea Games.