STATE OF THE PROVINCE ADDRESS

THE proposed Pangasinan East-West Expressway (PEWEx) envisioned by Gov. Ramon Guico III at the start of his administration will ground break six months from now or in September and will be built at no cost to the provincial government.

This was announced by Guico in his State of the Province Address (SOPA) before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on March 20, clarifying that P1 billion of the P6 billion omnibus loan obtained by the province from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) will be used just as equity for the project but did not disclose on who will bankroll the mega project nor disclose the terms and conditions sought by the financier and developer of the same.

Guico said the P1 billion sliced from the P6 billion omnibus loan will be used for acquisition of properties that will be encroached by PEWEx from East Pangasinan to West Pangasinan

Aside from showing a map where the PEWEx will traverse, Guico did not give any detail about the alignment of the project whose completion, according to him, will not only expand connectivity in Pangasinan but accelerate travel time by motorists from eastern to Western Pangasinan that will result in more economic activities in the whole province.

He called on provincial and local executives and other stakeholders to participate in the discussion of the proposed project whose completion is expected to accelerate the economic as well as tourism development in Pangasinan.

While conceding that there are still mixed reactions to the proposed expressway, Guico said the PEWEx intends to solve the problem of connectivity from east to west, which is exacerbated by poor transportation facilities from both points.

Included in the project is the establishment up bus terminals in major towns and cities to provide safe and convenient transportation to main destinations. (Leonardo Micua)

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