Proposed TPLEX rerouting ‘a burden to farmers’

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Farmers from Benguet and Mountain Province stand to suffer from the proposed rerouting of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), a lawmaker said yesterday.

Five to seven kilometers of additional travel is a disadvantage for the farmers, said Benguet Rep. Ronaldo Cosalan.

Former Pangasinan congressman Mark Cojuangco has been pushing for the rerouting of TPLEX.

Cosalan said the Department of Public Works and Highways is not in favor of the rerouting. He said DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson has turned down the proposal since it would cut through a mountainous area.

Cosalan, who chairs the House committee on public works, said the DPWH issued a notice to proceed with the original route Monday last week.

He said an injunction case filed by Cojuangco might derail the TPLEX completion up to Rosario town in La Union.

The lawmaker said with the rerouting, the farmers have to endure additional travel time and expense in transporting their produce to Metro Manila and the rest of the country.