MANILA, Philippines—A former congressman in Pangasinan, Mark Cojuangco, wrote to clarify a story that he said seemed to insinuate that he is vocal about the proposed Tarlac Pangasinan La Union Expressway (TPLEx) because of personal motives.
“The insinuation seems to be that I am doing this for personal gain,” Cojuangco said in a written reply to an Inquirer story quoting Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson as saying he had asked contractors of the proposed expressway to study Cojuangco’s proposal to reroute the project.
“Allow me to state that I, or any member of my family, do not own any property whatsoever along the favored route (of TPLEx),” he said in his written reply dated Jan. 19.
He said the lack of public consultation on the route design of the proposed expressway “maybe a non-issue in Central Luzon which has huge tracts of flat land but definitely an issue in Sison (town) which has small arable area and is already very naturally divided by rivers, hills.”
“As such, there is legal basis to seek remedy,” said Cojuangco’s letter.
“Let me state that I am doing this because the people of Sison have asked me to intervene, as have the people of Pozzorubio (another town in Pangasinan),” said the letter.
“They have resolutions to this effect,” it added.
“In any case, for argument’s sake, the favored route is an investment in the future,” the letter continued.
“Why? Because it is indisputable that it will make phase 3, which is the continuation to San Fernando, La Union, shorter by at least 5 km, if not more,” it said.
“Further it is a much straighter and scenic route,” the letter added.