THIS WEEK’S MILESTONES: Jan. 6-12, 2019

Jan. 8, 1996

The project development for the 88.9-kilometer Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway was started.

The highway was built to cut travel time between Tarlac City in Tarlac province and Rosario, La Union province, to just one hour from more than three hours.

It is divided into three sections: Section 1 runs from Tarlac City to Rosales in Pangasinan province (completed in April 2014), section 2 runs from Rosales to Urdaneta City in Pangasinan (completed in February 2015) and section 3 runs from Urdaneta City to Rosario in La Union (to be completed in June 2019).

It was supposed to have been completed by 2006, but budget constraints reportedly resulted in delays in implementation.

Jan. 10, 1940

The city of Koronadal in South Cotabato province was created as the Marbel Settlement District through Commonwealth Act No. 141.

Landless farmers from Luzon and the Visayas were awarded with lots to settle in Marbel.

The name Marbel came from the B’laan word that means murky waters.

Marbel became Koronadal through an executive order signed by then President Manuel Roxas.

The name Koronadal also came from the B’laan words “koron” or “kolon,” which means cogon grass, and “nadal” or “datal,” which means plain.

Koronadal became a city in August 2000 by virtue of Republic Act No. 8803.

But a 1948 resolution of the municipal council proclaimed Jan. 10 of every year as “Araw ng Koronadal,” commemorating the establishment of Marbel.

Compiled by Kathleen de Villa, Inquirer Research