The board of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has approved the Extension Project of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX).

In a press briefing on Friday, NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said that the NEDA Board, chaired by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., approved the proposal for the TPLEX Extension Project with an estimated budget of ₱23.4 billion pesos.

“This is the fastest unsolicited proposal approval from its submission dated March 17, 2023 and approved on June 2, 2023” Balisacan said.

The TPLEX Extension is a 59.4km four-lane highway from Rosario to San Juan, La Union that connects Ilocos region-Central Luzon-Metro Manila.

He added that the extension project is expected to ease traffic, and economic activity, improve road access, and promote development in nearby regions.

The project will be executed through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) administered by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

According to Balisacan, the board also confirmed the “Investment Commission Committee (ICC) guidelines for Local Government Unit (LGU) PPP projects” in which the outline will show the procedure of PPP proposals for LGUs that require ICC actions under the Build-operate-transfer (BOT) law.

Where the law grants a right to finance, build and operate a project for 20 to 30 years.

Balisacan said that the project is expected to be complete within Marcos' term.

The project was planned during the Duterte Administration but was only implemented this June 2023.

Written by Stephanie Anne Santos, DZRH News Online Intern