Realignment of TPLEX route sought
POZORRUBIO—Some 2,000 residents here signed a manifesto in a ‘people power ‘ rally Thursday asking President Aquino and the Department of Public Works and Highways to consider a realignment of the original plan of the Tarlac-Pangasinan- La Union Expressway (TPLEX).
Pozorrubio residents stage a people power rally Thursday calling for realignment of original design of TPLEX construction. (Tita Roces)
“We are not against the TPLEX as this will bring enormous benefits to this Region and Northern Luzon,” the one page manifesto said it seeks the realignment to mitigate flooding, loss of agricultural land, compliance with laws and government procedures, among others.
The manifesto also seeks a transparent and independent review and comparison of other more technically and socially acceptable options, particularly holding of public hearings and review of the procedures adopted for the issuance of the Environmental Compliance Certificate.
One of the convenors of the rallyists, Peter Udan, said the residents will exhaust all legal means in order to be heard and for government authorities to heed their pleas.
Celine Gordon, another convenor, asked: “Where can you see an expressway that passes through a thickly -populated area and very near the national highway?
The construction of TPLEX is ongoing in Urdaneta City towards Rosario, La Union.
Current proposed alignment has a number of technical issues, the petitioners said in the manifesto that included the risk to flooding in many large parts of Pozorrubio town (Poblacion 1 and 2, Cablong, Palguyod and Bobonan) because TPLEX will serve as a dike with no exit for the contained water.
A section runs along Bued River near Bobonan Creek exposing Bobonan, Laoac and Batakil to more flooding.
It also cited the exit tollgate close to Marcos Highway that will lead to traffic congestion along Manila North Road since it runs very close to Pozorrubio and Sison town centers, reducing land value and limiting future expansion.
The petitioners said there are other options put forward but not considered among these: Pass through pasture/idle land and reduce acquisition costs and loss of prime irrigated agricultural land; take a more stable elevated route along a ridge, involving less earthworks and cost; exit to the north and west of Rosario opens up Ilocos Region and mitigates traffic congestion to Baguio City and the Cordillera Administrative Region. (Tita Roces)
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