Gatchalian backs construction of NLEX-SLEX connecting road

MANILA, Philippines - Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the infrastructure sector of the National Capital Region-Regional Development Council, aired yesterday his full support of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) plan to construct an elevated road that would connect the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

“Around 70 to 80 percent of our constituents use the highways on a daily basis. I understand that it is indeed costly if modernization has to take place just to stop devastating accidents, which even took the life of our dear friend (former Malabon City) vice mayor Arnold Vicencio at SLEX,” Gatchalian said.

Vicencio died a month ago when he met an accident on SLEX as he was driving his motorcycle to his farm in Batangas.

The P20.18-billion, 13.4-kilometer four-lane NLEX-SLEX elevated expressway would connect the two highways. Gatchalian said the elevated expressway would utilize the existing Philippine National Railway alignment as its route.

The mayor made his commitment in the recent budget proposal consultation and hearing for the council’s projects under the Metro Manila Development Authority for fiscal year 2013, held in Valenzuela City.

Gatchalian said the approval of budget proposals underwent rigid scrutiny to ensure that the attached government agencies would comply with the “preset budget ceiling to optimize the use of the tax payers’ money.”

Gatchalian said the council also tackled two other priority expressway projects of the DPWH: the P1.9-billion Daang Hari-SLEX road, which would form one of the links between Metro Manila and Cavite, and phase two of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport improved access road, worth P14.59 billion.