The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) can now proceed with the publication of the invitation for comparative proposals to undertake the 59.4-kilometer four (4)-lane Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) Extension Project at the current TPLEX in Rosario to the surfing capital of San Juan, La Union Province.
TPLEX Extension Project obtained on Thursday, November 9, 2023 the approval to proceed with Swiss Challenge including the negotiation parameters, terms and conditions between Government Negotiation Team and the Original Proponent San Miguel Holdings Corporation from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and attended by DPWH Secretary and NEDA Board member Manuel M. Bonoan.
According to DPWH Undersecretary for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and Planning Services Maria Catalina E. Cabral and DPWH PPP Service OIC-Director Pelita V. Galvez, the NEDA Board’s greenlight for the Department to start the Swiss Challenge for TPLEX Extension Project is a much-awaited development as it is one (1) of the 197 Infrastructure Flagship Projects (IFPs) under the Build Better More program the administration of President Marcos.
"With the NEDA Board’s approval, an invitation for comparative proposals in compliance with the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) Guidelines and the Revised 2022 Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law Implementing Rules and Regulations, shall be published by the DPWH," said Undersecretary Cabral.
Other parties shall be invited to submit their bids to top that of the original proponent's unsolicited proposal.
Without a challenger, the project may be awarded to the Original Proponent as early as March 2024. Otherwise, the project is expected to be awarded by May 2024.
Civil works of the TPLEX Extension can then proceed, which is expected to be completed within five (5) years.
When completed, the extended TPLEX will further improve mobility between the Ilocos and Cordillera Regions, Central Luzon, and Metro Manila, reducing travel time from Rosario to San Juan, La Union from the current one (1) and a half hour to just around 40 minutes.
The toll road is also expected to accelerate the development of new growth hubs in Ilocos and nearby regions, while alleviating the traffic congestion in the area particularly at MacArthur Highway (Manila North Road).
The NEDA Board initially approved the TPLEX Extension Project on June 2, 2023, allowing DPWH to commence with the negotiations with the Original Proponent.