Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon said on Friday that he means to fast-track the road intended to shorten the travel time between Urdaneta and Binalonan and finish the bridge connecting Villasis and Sto. Tomas in Pangasinan.

Dizon ordered that the Binalonan-Laoac-Villasis Diversion Road be funded wholly, as it has been six years since construction began. Its completion would benefit motorists and commuters who endure everyday traffic jams, the agency said.

“Ang laking benepisyo nito kasi hindi na sila dadaan sa mga bayan-bayan. So, tingin ko naman ‘pag pinaliwanag natin ‘yun sa Kongreso, susuportahan tayo ng Kongreso. Sisiguraduhin nila na hindi mababawasan ‘yung mga pondo, para matapos na ng buo yung mga ganitong klaseng mga project,” said Secretary Dizon.

Once finished, the road will reduce the travel time from Urdaneta to Binalonan to 15 minutes from 45 minutes, reported RH 29 Boy Gonzales.

According to the DPWH, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the expedited construction of the Villasis–Sto. Tomas Bridge, also in Pangasinan. Its completion has been delayed for almost a decade now.

“Lahat ng mga nakatengga, pipilitin nating matapos ng end of 2027, bago matapos ang term ni PBBM. ‘Yun ang commitment natin. At base sa mga nakikita ko and doon sa mga pondo na kinakailangan, tingin ko very, very possible ‘yun,” Dizon said.

He estimated that the travel time between the two municipalities would be reduced from 30 minutes to an hour, to merely five minutes, once open for public use.

The agency is also speeding up the construction of the Dagupan-Mangaldan-Calasiao Bypass Road, which is estimated to reduce travel time from the three areas to only 40 minutes from the present one hour and 30 minutes.

The public works chief emphasized that funding for major projects such as these should no longer be released piecemeal to ensure their timely completion and use by the public.