As the government began to ease lockdowns and mobility restrictions, in order to revive the economy, the roads that were once cleared during the lockdown, were slowly reverting to pre-pandemic times. This is even with a lessened volume of commuters, considering that most schools are still being conducted online and some workplaces are still in a work-from-home setup, and yet the traffic congestion in Metro Manila has become worst day by day. Some studies show that the main cause of the terrible traffic in Metro Manila involves the inefficient use of roads, the lack of urban planning from the government, and systemic issues with various transport authorities. And because of this traffic congestion that is becoming out of control, the government was compelled to build more infrastructure projects in the Philippines. Through the various infrastructure projects in the Philippines, the government believes that this will enable to improve the infrastructure connectivity and establish more business opportunities outside of the overpopulated National Capital Region, aside from decongesting the traffic.
During the last couple of years, through President Rodrigo Duterte’s extensive and aggressive ‘Build, Build, Build’ program, the projects implemented were now helping at least 8 northern provinces– Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, La Union, Pangasinan, Benguet, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and Mountain Province. It materialized into different lengthy roads, railway systems, bridges, airports, seaports, and other infrastructures. Those provinces can now be finally considered as somewhat ‘closer’ to Metro Manila because of reduced travel time due to numerous road projects and other infrastructure projects in the Philippines. The government commenced an ambitious and daring Luzon Spine Expressway Network, which is a 1,040-kilometer network of expressways that would connect the northern and southern parts of Luzon. To decrease the total amount of travel time before an individual can go from La Union to Bicol in half, the overall plan includes the NLEX Harbor Link Project, the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), the Urdaneta Bypass Road, the Radial Road 10, the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX), the Plaridel By-Pass Road, the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, and the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road. Furthermore, the government aims to increase the road network threefold. And with the full implementation of roads with a length of 26,494 kilometers and 5,555 bridges nationwide, the eight provinces in the North become closer to Metro Manila, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Bulacan
At least around 15,000 vehicles are anticipated to be seen or will use the national highway after the successful completion of the 24.6-kilometer Plaridel Bypass Road. Moreover, the Plaridel Bypass Road provides easier direct access from North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) to the local towns of Angat, Balagtas, and Pandi, all the way to San Rafael.
Nueva Ecija
Did you know that it will only take you now at least 20 minutes to travel from Nueva Ecija to Tarlac, back and forth? Yes, you read it right! If before it will take you to travel more than an hour, now with the newly opened Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX), also known as the Central Luzon Link Freeway, it will only take you at least 20 minutes. Moreover, it is currently toll-free and can be accessed through the interconnection design of Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway (TPLEX) in Balingcanaway in Tarlac City. CLLEX is expected to decongest traffic on the Pan-Philippine Highway by 48% and reduce travel time by 70%.
Read Also: NLEX, SCTEX Stopover Guide
La Union
Ordinarily before, it would take you 6 to 8 hours of driving before you could reach Rosario, La Union, which is the gateway to Baguio City. But now because of the completion of the Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway, (TPLEX), Rosario, La Union is just approximately a 3-hour drive from Manila. You can now enjoy their famous beach resorts in a reduced amount of travel time.
Pangasinan
Just like La Union, another province from the north benefited a lot from the newly opened expressway of Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway (TPLEX). Now it will only take you approximately 2 hours to drive from Manila to arrive in Pangasinan. Saves you a lot of time, right? Moreover, through the newly opened Urdaneta Bypass Road, your travel time from Villasis to Binalonan has also been reduced to only half an hour! Another road is about to be completed this 2022, the scenic Daang Katutubo Road which runs 24.22-kilometer, which will also make your travel time faster to arrive at the town of Aguilar.
Benguet
Another 144-kilometer road network called BLISTT, which is an accumulation of the city of Baguio and the five municipalities of the province of Benguet, which includes, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay, is now being used by locals and tourists to access these municipalities in just a short manner of time. This Outer Circumferential Road will also let you access other northern areas of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) going to the Cagayan Valley Region via the Benguet-Vizcaya Road.
Ilocos Sur
Of course, when going north, Ilocos is one of the best places to consider because of its popular historic churches and its famous city, Vigan. Now with the completion of Candon Bypass Road, which reduced travel time to only 20 minutes instead of the usual 40 to 50 minutes through the national highway.
Ilocos Norte
The Sicapo, Tabbayagan, and Madduang Bridges along Apayao-Ilocos Norte Road in Apayao Province are the newly-constructed bridges in this beautiful province of Ilocos Norte. It reduced travel time from the usual 6-hour drive to only just 3 hours.
Mountain Province
With the ease of travel restrictions, travelers can now reach the famous tourist destination, Sagada in a much more reduced travel time. It is because of the newly-constructed Balili-Suyo-Sagada Road which runs 9.44-kilometer and also the Sabangan-Sagada Road which runs 9.85-kilometer paving the way for the travelers to reach Sagada faster and go to the different attractions of Sagada like hanging coffins, Bomo-ok Falls, and Sumaguing cave.
The effects of these projects are life-changing. It has now improved people’s mobility, the reduced travel time made an efficient way of exchanging goods among merchants, and created a wide range of employment opportunities in different provinces. Indeed these infrastructure projects in the Philippines have a strong multiplier effect. The country has a population of approximately 100 million people and still growing. And a big chunk of this number can be located in the Metro Manila area and it is anticipated that the growing population in Metro Manila will extend as far North as Angeles City in Pampanga, to Lucena City, Quezon Province in the South, and to Batangas City in the West within the next six to eight years. Hence, with this population growth, the government needs to put its focus on the infrastructure projects that will support this anticipated and projected growth of both the population and its economy. Moreover, these multi-billion peso infrastructures and transport projects, together with an established Public-Private Partnership Program and a focused government dedicated to ending corruption, will make the country ripe for investment opportunities.
It increased the economy’s productivity in different local areas, now that different provinces become closer to Metro Manila, it created a more inclusive growth for every sector. For instance, investment in the real estate sector becomes on-demand nowadays thanks to the infrastructure projects in the Philippines by the government making it desirable for the real estate industry to sell their lots at a higher value. And hence, the more infrastructure project, the more it attracts new opportunities for investors. As communities are developing and expanding through the build, build, build, real estate seekers and investors now have a chance to buy a property that has a higher investment potential and return. Massive infrastructure projects by the government drive more value appreciation in Bria Homes – New gov’t infrastructures to boost demand for Bria Homes affordable house and lot outside metro.
Promising Infrastructure Projects in the Philippines for Central and Southern Luzon
So take note of these promising projects of the government that make Central and Southern Luzon prime real estate hotspots:
1. Sangley International Airport
Sangley Point Airport also known as Cavite Airport is yet to be constructed this 2022. Once completed, it will be primarily intended to serve general aviation and turbo-propped airliners in the general vicinity of South Luzon and the National Capital Region. Furthermore, it can accommodate at least 25 million passengers a year, but it gets more exciting because part of the plan is to make it into a four-runway aviation hub the following year after its completion. So it can accommodate up to 130 million passengers annually. It is truly amazing to have a domestic airport in Cavite. And because of this, it will most likely attract foreign investments and as well as business expansions. Opportunities will surely spring in this province so consider moving into BRIA Homes in Silang, Cavite– List of Affordable House and Lot in Cavite.
2. Cavite-Tagaytay-Batangas Expressway (CTBEX)
Another successful project in Cavite that will connect through the new CALAX (Cavite-Laguna Expressway) in Silang to Ternate-Nasugbu Road in Nasugbu. Travel time from Manila to Tagaytay is now reduced from 2.5 hours to less than an hour! You can just grab a coffee in Tagaytay and enjoy its scenic view in just half an hour and go back to Manila as if nothing has happened! Moreover, it will only take you now a 40-minute trip instead of the usual one hour and 40 minutes from Governor’s Drive going to Nasugbu, Batangas. And because of this project, the normal two hours drive from Sta. Rosa, Laguna going to Tagaytay will also be reduced to merely 46 minutes traversing CTBEX.
Cavite and Batangas are among the emerging business hubs in Luzon. It will help boost the country’s economy on its way to recovery. More opportunities will be pouring into this province as time goes by because of the massive infrastructure projects in the Philippines by the government. As you prepare for that move, start looking for an affordable house and lot to accommodate your family– Why Cavite Remains a Property Hotspot?
3. LRT-1 Cavite Extension
The two billion peso project that started from Monumento, Caloocan in the north to Baclaran, Pasay in the south made it quicker for employees and other commuters to go from locations in Manila, and now, with extending to Cavite and some parts of Parañaque and Las Piñas, adding eight (8) stations. This expansion is now 68% complete according to this BRIA Homes article– LRT-1 Cavite extension, 68% Complete, read it for more insight information. It is now made easier to go from Metro Manila to the provincial city back and forth in just a span of 25 minutes instead of the usual 1 hour and 10 minutes plus you’ll be sitting in a comfortable way. It’s definitely a more convenient way of transportation for those living outside Metro Manila and working in the central business district. Because of this, a lot of businesses will benefit as employees will become more productive. With the extension of the LRT-1 to Cavite, residential communities in the province are expected to see higher demand for real estate. As people now will consider moving to the province, the real estate industry can take advantage of this growing demand.
4. North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR)
This North-South Commuter Railway system is anticipated to be completed by the year 2024. This project by the government will be a big help in connecting cities and towns in the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces such as Bulacan, Pampanga, and Laguna. A lot of commuters are looking forward for this railway system to be completed as it will improve or even change lives of the labor force and the people in general.
Now that the pandemic situation is already improving, given that the Philippines is now in the loosest restriction, the Alert Level 1, where travel restrictions are eased, hopefully, everyone can all enjoy these newly opened roads with faster travel time to these lovely places in the north of Luzon to help them boost their economy. Now with the more relaxed travel restrictions, the pre-pandemic lids of traveling can now be once achieved again. For instance, in this article, you will read about the exciting opportunities created by this infrastructure project by the government to lessen your travel time, Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge to reduce travel time from Bataan to Cavite.
