MABALACAT CITY — Even as he oversees major infrastructure projects all over the country now, with some even tainted by anomalies prior to his assumption, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon doubles down on ensuring further developments in Metro Clark area and other parts of Pampanga and Tarlac.
“We need to connect everyone (to progress). I am asking our mayors and congressmen to assess and know what we still lack and what else needs to be done,” he said in an interview.
Dizon made the remarks while inspecting the Atlu Bola Bypass Road that connects the Sta. Ines tip of NLEX to the northern part of this city onwards to Tarlac province. Mabalacat is the northernmost part of Pampanga and is bounded by Bamban, Tarlac.
Dizon is credited for the major developments in Clark when he was president of the Bases Conversion Development Authority. Under his leadership in BCDA, the New Clark City was constructed and developed and the new terminal of Clark International Airport was built.
“Tiga rito tayo. Marami tayo in(invest na pondo at (nabuksan) trabaho sa Clark area. Kailangan konektado lahat. Hinihingi ko rin sa mga mayors na tulungan tayo sa mga right-of-way problems,” he said.
Dizon, in a meeting with Mabalacat Mayor Geld Aquino, has resolved the access issue that has stalled the opening of the Bypass Road that was first built in 2018. He has also facilitated the approval by the Toll Regulatory Board of an access road to and from NLEX through a phone call to TRB head Jay Art Tugade during the inspection. The DPWH is also looking into funding the so-called Dolores Connector road from which is a vital link between Clark Freeport and the Ayala-owned Technopark in Barangay Tabun of this city.
For his part, Aquino expressed thanks to Dizon, NLEX President Luis Reñon, the TRB and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
He said that the new road will not only hasten traffic flow but will also open more business and trade that is vital to the economy of Mabalacat and Pampanga province.
