All go for TPLEX extension project
In June 2024, the Philippine government approved the PHP 23.4 billion TPLEX Extension Project that was proposed by San Miguel Corporation (SMC). Just recently, the Private-Public-Partnership (PPP) agreement was presented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and SMC to President Bongbong Marcos.
“With the signed PPP contract, the STEIC (SMC TPLEX Extension Infrastructure Corp.) and DPWH can now proceed with detailed engineering design (DED), parcellary plan, and right-of-way (ROW) acquisition for all the segments, so that we can commence civil works by July 2025,” said Public Works Secretary, Manuel Bonoan.
The TPLEX Extension Project will be divided into 3 segments, with the 1st segment between Rosario and Tubao La Union aimed to be finished before PBBM’s end of term in 2028. The 2nd and 3rd segments are Tubao to Naguilian, and Naguilian to San Juan, respectively.
All the way to Laoag
SMC has bigger plans for TPLEX, starting with the extension project up to San Juan, and it will go all the way to Laoag, Ilocos Norte.
In 2020, SMC President and COO, Ramon S. Ang (RSA), said that TPLEX will go all the way up to Laoag.
“Next niyan, from San Juan, La Union, idudugtong ‘yan to Laoag [Ilocos Norte] na. Can you imagine, all of a sudden, ngayon lang with this TPLEX biglang sumikat na ‘yung Baguio eh ‘diba? Sikat na ‘yung San Juan, La Union. Dami nang taong pumupunta ng Vigan [Ilocos Sur]. What more kung mayroon ‘yang tollway all the way to Laoag. (Next, we’ll connect San Juan La Union to Laoag. Can you imagine, all of a sudden, now with TPLEX, Baguio City became more popular? San Juan also became a popular destination. A lot of people also traveled to Vigan. What more if we have a tollway all the way to Laoag),” said RSA.
RSA added that SMC will not tire of investing in infrastructure, as a means to create more jobs and boost the economy.
