CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- To highlight its importance as a vital network linking four provinces in Central Luzon, the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. is mulling on requesting authorities to rename Jose Abad Santos Avenue or Jasa to Jose Abad Santos Highway (Jash).
According to Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Director Antonio Molano, Jr., Jasa, formerly known as Olongapo–Gapan Road (OG Road) and Gapan–San Fernando–Olongapo Road (GSO Road) is a 118-kilometer stretch spanning the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bataan and Zambales.
He told SunStar Pampanga that it is indeed a major highway in Luzon designated as National Route 3 (N3) of the Strong Republic Nautical Highway System.
“Renaming it though will require congressional legislation just like what former President Arroyo did in 2007. Although Jasa and other national highways are under the administration of DPWH, renaming it would take a formal legislative measure before it can be implemented. Maybe the proper person to ask for advice is Congresswoman Arroyo because it was during her term that the renaming of Jasa was approved. As for us at DPWH, we are only here for implementation,” Molano said.
He added, renaming it might be suitable as “avenue” is normally accepted for a city or town road only while “highway” is for major roads connecting towns and provinces.
“When we say avenue, our usual notion is in a rural setting which might not be proper since Central Luzon is already developing into an urban area. It really is a major highway and not just an avenue considering its length and importance as a vital infrastructure in Central Luzon,” Molano said.
The former OG Road/GSO Road was renamed after the late Kapampangan Chief Justice Jose Abad Santos, who was born in San Fernando on February 19, 1886, in line with Republic Act No. 9477 signed by former President and now Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on May 22, 2007.
The N3-designated Jasa as the most significant toll-free road that connects Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Bataan and Zambales.
The road stretches from the City of Gapan, San Isidro and Cabiao in Nueva Ecija; Santa Ana, Arayat, Mexico, City of San Fernando, Bacolor, Guagua, and Lubao in Pampanga; Hermosa and Dinalupihan in Bataan; and finally to Olongapo City in Zambales.
Jasa traverses through residential areas and big business and commercial establishments like SM City Pampanga, Robinsons Starmills, Mitsubishi Carworld Pampanga, Ford Pampanga, Kia Pampanga, Isuzu Pampanga, St. Nicholas College, Shell gas stations that are located on Northwalk 1 and 2, CLTV 36, S&R Pampanga, and Toyota San Fernando as well as banks and other offices on both sides of the expanded highway.
It intersects with the North Luzon Expressway, crosses MacArthur Highway through the Dolores Flyover straight to the Lazatin Flyover heading to Bataan and Zambales.
Highway of commerce, trade
Jasa traces its roots to the pre-colonial period. Kapampangans expanded their trades throughout Central Luzon, forcing them to create roads adjacent to the Pampanga River.
Since Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Rizal (Metro Manila) are readily accessible because the road networks to those locations exist, access to the province of Zambales and Bataan had to be made. Through the years, they developed land tracks accessible by foot and small wagons pulled by horses.
When the Spaniards came to the Philippines, they developed the road built by the previous regime, widened it, constructed wooden bridges, and connected it to Olongapo, a very vital location which enabled them to easily access the Subic Bay, the site of their naval base.
During the time of the Americans, they paved the Olongapo-Gapan Road and constructed concrete bridges, the longest is the one that traverses Great Pampanga River. These actions enabled them to connect their air field in Clark and their Naval Base in Subic Bay.
Greater improvements on the road were made on this period but after World War II, the Philippine Government rehabilitated and repaired the whole road destroyed by bombardments, paving all of the 118-kilometer long highway. New bridges was constructed, shoulders were improved and added some facilities.
During the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991, some portions of a highway, especially its Bacolor and Magliman, San Fernando section, were buried in lahar and many bridges were destroyed.
A year after the disaster, these sections were rehabilitated, which involved building new roads and bridges, enabling the continuous flow of trade and commerce in the region. (JTD/SunStar Pampanga)