Duterte leads opening of CLLEX Phase 1 Project in Tarlac

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday led the opening of the Tarlac Interchange to Aliaga Section of the Central Luzon Link Expressway in Tarlac City, which shortens travel time from Tarlac to Cabanatuan City.

The 18-kilometer section of expressway will allow 11,200 motorists and commuters to cut travel time from Tarlac to Cabanatuan City from 70 minutes to only 20 minutes.

In his speech, Duterte said the expressway "will not only connect Tarlac City and Cabanatuan City but also improve access to several localities in Tarlac and Nueva Ecija."

Duterte also thanked the Japanese government for helping fund the recently opened highway, with the inclusion of a P12 billion donation from Japan International Cooperation Agency.

"Allow me, on behalf of the Filipino people, to thank the government of Japan for helping fund the construction of CLLEX in support of our national infrastructure program," he said.

The CLLEX will also provide a shorter commute for those going to and from Metro Manila and Cabanatuan City, Duterte said.

Duterte, likewise, thanked Public Works Secretary Mark Villar for the "speedy, efficient and timely completion of CLLEX."

Villar, meanwhile, said the opening of CLLEX will also reduce heavy traffic in Pan-Philippine Highway or Maharlika Highway by 48 percent.

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhiko Koshikawa hailed Philippine authorities and Japanese counterparts for completing the project successfully despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The project is view of the strong determination of administration from President Duterte to Secretary Villar to DPWH officials down to Philippine partners and Japanese counterparts," he said during the inauguration.

For now, the Tarlac, Rio Chico River Bridge and Aliaga sections in CLLEX are open to the public while roadworks on the Cabanatuan segment is still pending.

Under the project’s Phase 2 plan, CLLEX will be extended from Cabanatuan City to San Jose City, Nueva Ecija, which will expand the 30-kilometer Phase 1 project to 65-kilometer length expressway.—LDF, GMA News