FORMER Pampanga First District Representative Joseller “Yeng” Guiao said underscored on Friday the need to establish a development plan for the Metro Clark area.
Guiao told members of the Capampangan In Media Incorporated during a meeting Friday, May 3, he will work on a program called the Metro Clark Urban Development Plan, if he is elected congressman in the province’s 1st Congressional District.
He claimed that after the major accomplishments, including the Clark airport terminal, railway system, and sports complex, the district became “silent.”
“We need to plan ahead with our, I will call it the Metro Clark Urban Development Plan, which means we already need to talk to Congress about our subways, our MRTs and LRTs, our road system expansion,” Guiao said.
He cited the heavily congested road which connects the two barangays of Pulung Cacutud and Pulung Maragul.
“You know the road and [small] bridge at EPZA, traffic congestion is worst there. It has remained a single one way lane for most of the time and there is no solution being forwarded,” Guiao said.
He vowed to propose a project to solve the traffic problem in the area.
He was referring to a wider bridge crossing the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).
“Me, I already have a solution if ever. Yes, because my advantage is I’m with NLEX and I already discussed that with my bosses,” Guiao said.
He described the traffic congestion in the area as a three-pronged problem and cannot be solved by the local government unit of Angeles City alone.
“It can only be solved by the congressman. Why? Number One, the only responsibility of the LGU here is the right of way. It is up to the LGU to acquire the right of way,” Guiao said.
He added that he already talked to Angeles City Vice Mayor Bryan Nepomuceno, who is running for city mayor, regarding the problem.
Guiao said he was assured by Nepomuceno that the city government will acquire the right of way in order for the project to be implemented.
He said it is only the congressman who can lobby for P300 to P400 million in funds to expand the said vital road which also connects the city and Magalang town.
“The city cannot afford that and it has to come from DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) and national government,” Guiao said.
The permission of NLEX Corporation is also needed to build the four-lane bridge, according to him.
“Its foundation is within the franchise area of NLEX. If NLEX said you cannot touch it, you cannot touch it,” Guiao said.
NLEX will also spend around P50 million for the preparatory works along the expressway, he added.
“That is a partnership in the funding of NLEX and DPWH. If DPWH will spend P300 million, maybe NLEX has to spend P50 million below. And I already talked to MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan) about that. So he said that is not a problem,” Guiao said.