San Pascual, Tarlac
23 December 2013

President Benigno S. Aquino III stressed the importance of a developed infrastructure in achieving a progressive nation as he graced the inauguration of Tarlac City-Gerona-Paniqui Section of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) Project that was held in Brgy. San Pascual, Tarlac City.

On board an open-type pick-up vehicle, the President led the inaugural drive-through and unveiling of the project marker which signaled the official kick-off of TPLEX.

“Ang pagbubukas na ito ay maaga at talaga namang maagang aginaldo sa libu-libo nating kababayan lalo na para sa mga minamahal kong Tarlaqueño. Hatid nito ang ginhawa sa biyahe hindi lang ngayong Pasko, kundi maging sa darating pang mga taon. Walang duda: ang Tarlac City-Gerona-Paniqui section ng Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway o TPLEX project at patunay sa mabuting ibinubunga ng pagtutulungan ng pamahalaan at ng pribadong sektor sa paghahatid ng serbisyo sa ating mamamayan,” said the President.

Moreover, President Aquino said that once the TPLEX section 1 is completed by 2014, it will only take 30 minutes to go to Rosales, Pangasinan from Tarlac City and once the whole project is finished, travel time from Tarlac City going to Rosario, La Union will be reduced from three hours to just one hour. This, he added, will benefit more or less 20,000 passengers and travelers everyday. Tourism, commerce and the delivery of basic services will also move faster which will eventually result to the growth of the local economy.

TPLEX is a project of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) through its subsidiary Private Infra Development Corporation (PIDC).

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