LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Senator Imee Marcos on Saturday led the groundbreaking ceremony for the San Manuel, Pangasinan-Itogon, Benguet Road, a part of what she called “Ilocano road network” that would connect Regions I, II, and Cordillera Autonomous Region.
Marcos said the road is one of the “missing links” in the planned “Ilocano road network” that would connect inner towns in the northern Luzon provinces.
She said while there is the Manila North Road from Metro Manila to the north, the highway traverses only the major cities and towns, and other areas were left out.
“How about those in Central Luzon? That’s the problem, we don’t have much connection. For instance, the connection between Ilocos Sur and Abra is only a 350-meter bridge,” Marcos said.
She said the Pangasinan-Benguet highway would enable the provinces to access each other’s produce.
“The highland vegetables could be easily brought down, while the ‘pinakbet’ vegetables can easily be brought up to Baguio City,” Marcos said.
The San Manuel, Pangasinan-Itogon Benguet Road was actually started in 2020, but construction work stopped in 2021 because of the pandemic, and funds were used to buy anti-COVID vaccine, she said. Construction was resumed in 2022.
The interregional roads will help marginalized indigenous people in the remote areas where tourism could grow, she said.
“Some people are asking why I am pouring projects in small towns and not in big areas where the voters are. But I told them not everything is politics. Building roads would spur economic development in the areas passed by the roads,” Marcos said.
Public Works and Highways Region I Director Ronnel Tan said the road line project will traverse the Ambayaoan and Agno Rivers, as well as six kilometers of mountainous areas.
The P1.915 billion project has an approximate length of 46.5 kilometers in Region I, Region II, and Cordillera Autonomous Region, of which 37.736 kilometers cross Pangasinan towns.
The road will connect the towns of San Manuel, Asingan, Tayug, and San Nicolas in the province of Pangasinan; Kayapa, Nueva Vizcaya; and Itogon, Benguet.
“The Region 1 component starts at Barangay Guiset Norte, San Manuel, and ends at Brgy. Fianza, San Nicolas,” the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said.
The agency said the project is expected to enhance future economic activities in the area by providing a shorter, faster, and cheaper transport system.
“It will enhance trading and business activities between Ilocos Provinces and Benguet Province as well the whole of Regions 1 and CAR,” the DPWH said.
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