P 2.2 billion Bataan expressway expansion project to complete in two years

ORANI, Bataan – The proposed P 2.2 billion conversion of the province’s main thoroughfare into seven (7) lane road network is projected to complete in two years.

Engineer Erlindo R. Flores, district engineer, of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in the 1^st Engineering District of Bataan, described the expansion of Roman Expressway as one of the priority infrastructure projects of Governor Albert Raymond S. Garcia to transform the historic peninsula into a premier eco-industrial hub in Central Luzon.

He explained the 68-kilometer stretch of Roman Expressway is a crucial highway that connects the nine(9) towns and the lone component city in Bataan including robust industrial areas like Freeport Area of Bataan , the Petron Bataan Refinery , the Petrochemical Park, four (4) power plants, Mount Samat National Shrine, Special Economic Defense Zone and Hermosa Special Economic Zone.

According to Engineer Flores  the modernization phase of the province’s vital road network would open strategically  key  routes  interconnecting three of the country’s  largest  Freeports located in Mariveles, Bataan; Olongapo and Angeles Cities  that facilitate import of raw materials and export of finished products to world markets ; transport of workers, tourists, traders and other services.

Meanwhile, Governor Garcia is optimistic on the continuing confidence level of trade investment in Bataan grow as the volume of traffic has tremendously expanded over the years.

The governor sees the great opportunity for the province’s to undertake reliable all weather –type road system to draw more export- oriented multi-national manufacturing firms, industrial corporations, commercial property and housing developers.

The youthful provincial executive said the growing demand for manpower in the Freeport Area of Bataan and other industrial estates in the province encouraged workers from different places of Central and Ilocos regions and beyond as far as the Visayas.