Villanueva: Govt's infra program in Central Luzon will lead to more projects, businesses, jobs

Senator Joel Villanueva on Friday hailed the government's Build, Build, Build program as it is "poised to open more job opportunities for Filipino workers."

During the groundbreaking ceremony of Ciudad de Victoria interchange led by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in coordination with Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, Maligaya Development Corp., and the local government of Bocaue, Bulacan, Villanueva emphasized that the formula in job creation is building more infrastructures especially outside of Metro Manila.

"Tamang-tama po ang ganitong proyekto dahil inihahanda po natin ang buong rehiyon ng Central Luzon para sa mas maraming proyekto, negosyo at trabaho para sa ating mga kababayan," Villanueva said.

"Tulad po ng palagi nating sinasabi, 'Build Build Build Equals Jobs Jobs Jobs' at itong araw po na ito ang magpapatunay na tama ang pormula natin para sa kaunlaran," the senator continued.

The Ciudad de Victoria interchange is a P635-million project that will traverse a 650-meter new road opening from Manila North Road (MNR) to the existing 620-meter Bocaue Municipal Road. The road network will continue to traverse a 640-meter new road opening and will terminate at the existing inner road of the Ciudad de Victoria.

The total length of the project will be 5,143 meters, with 90 meter bridge, consisting of 4 lanes.

Also included in the total road length is the rehabilitation of 1,933 meters of inner road of Ciudad de Victoria leading to the on-going Sta. Maria - Bocaue Bypass Road passing to the on-going San Gabriel Bridge in Sta. Maria, Bulacan and the road construction of 1,300 meters to connect to the existing Patubig Road leading to Marilao.

The project will serve as an alternate road to the heavily congested Governor F. Halili road in Sta. Maria Bulacan.

The interchange is also seen as a long term solution to alleviate traffic situation of vehicles at the Bocaue Entry/Exit Toll Gate of the North Luzon Expressway.

"Bilang anak ng Bocaue, masayang-masaya po tayo sa bagong proyektong ito. Ito po ang magsisilbing daan sa mas matatag na kaunlaran sa bayan ng Bocaue at mga karatig na mga munisipyo dito sa lalawigan ng Bulacan," Villanueva said.

Being the first senator from Bulacan, Villanueva believes that infrastructure projects in Central Luzon will lead to economic development in the region.

Aside from the Ciudad de Victoria interchange, other approved government projects in Central Luzon are the Tutuban-Malolos Train or the North-South Commuter Rail Project, and the New Clark City in Tarlac.

"Kasabay po ng Build, Build, Build Program, patuloy po tayo sa paglikha ng mga batas, katuwang ang ating mga kasamahan sa Kongreso, upang lalong lumawak ang oportunidad, trabaho at negosyo hindi lang po dito sa Central Luzon kundi sa buong bansa," Villanueva said.