QUEZON CITY, (PIA) --President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. led today the inauguration of the first section of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Connector, a five-kilometer elevated expressway that is expected to improve mobility in Metro Manila and seen to spur economic development opportunities in Northern and Southern Luzon. 

President Marcos said the project, once completed, would be a “dream come true,” citing the five-minute travel time from Manila to Caloocan. 

“Sa buong buhay natin hindi pa natin nakikita na yung Manila hanggang Caloocan ay 5 minutes. Baka yung ating pangarap ay matupad na!” President Marcos said. 

With entry and exit ramps at C3 Road and España, the new elevated expressway will cut travel time between Caloocan and Manila and vice versa to just five minutes, boosting productivity and ensuring timely delivery of goods and services.

The improved connectivity will make daily commuting to and from Metro Manila and nearby provinces more efficient and beneficial for the public. 

It will also be easy for traders from the North such as the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija,  Nueva Viscaya and Isabela to speed up the transport of goods to Metro Manila 

“This is indeed another achievement and undoubtedly will significantly improve the mobility of people, of goods, of services, not only within Metro Manila but also within its environs,” President Marcos said. 

“We will not stop here. We will continue to develop a highly interconnected road network that will facilitate our country’s rapid, inclusive, and sustained economic growth,” the President added. 

The P23-billion NLEX Connector stretches eight kilometers from Caloocan up to the vicinity of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila.  
Construction of the second section from España to Sta. Mesa is ongoing and its progress stands at 42 percent.  

In its full operations, it aims to serve around 35,000 vehicles daily, providing better access to Manila Ports and airports such as NAIA and Clark. 

Joining the President during the inauguration rites were Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.  Also present were Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) and Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) Chairman Manuel Pangilinan, MPTC President Rodrigo Franco, and NLEX Corporation President J. Luigi Bautista and other natinal and local government officials. (PIA-NCR)