Marcos vows to finish Cavite-Laguna tollway
TRECE MARTIRES CITY—President Marcos on Friday vowed that the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAx) will be completed on time as part of the government’s efforts to improve transportation and road infrastructure in the country.
This was after the President inspected the ongoing construction of the CALAx Governor’s Drive Interchange in General Trias City.
“We will ensure that the Cavite-Laguna Expressway will be completed on time for Filipinos going home to their families and for workers who hope to have more time to rest and recover,” he said on Facebook and Instagram.
He went on: “In this New Philippines, we will open more opportunities for a more comfortable life that is also full of hope for our loved ones.”
Mr. Marcos was accompanied by Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Cavite Gov. Athena Tolentino, General Trias City Mayor Luis Ferrer, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. chair Manuel Pangilinan, MPTC president and chief executive officer Jose Ma. Lim and MPT South officer in charge Elnora Rumawak.
The CALAx is a 44.6 kilometer, four-lane expressway that seeks to improve connectivity between Cavite and Laguna.
The CALAX Governor’s Drive Interchange is currently 44 percent complete and is expected to be completed and targeted by the third quarter of 2025.
This segment is expected to decongest Governor’s Drive and provide access to major economic hubs in Calabarzon.
The full completion of the CALAx is also seen to ease traffic along major thoroughfares like Governor’s Drive, Aguinaldo Highway and Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road and to reduce travel time between the Manila-Cavite Expressway and Southern Luzon Expressway by about 45 minutes, benefitting 95,000 motorists daily.
Parts in service
Operational segments of CALAx are at the Mamplasan and interchanges at Laguna Boulevard, Laguna Technopark, Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road, Silang East and Silang Aguinaldo.
During his visit to Cavite, the President stressed the importance of a “whole-of-government” approach in addressing Filipinos’ needs.
“You know what is happening to our government today. What we are doing is immediately recognizing that perhaps one department alone cannot handle the problems faced by the people,” Mr. Marcos said during the launch of the “Trabaho at Serbisyong Pangkalusugan sa Bagong Pilipinas” job fair in Dasmariñas, Cavite.
He noted that the job fair is a pivotal part of the government’s “whole-of-government” approach to assisting Filipinos.
“That’s why we call it a [whole]-of-government approach. We are bringing together the entire government,” he said, vowing that the government would continue to provide for and support Filipinos in need.
The job fair led by the Department of Labor and Employment offered 3,600 job vacancies from 41 employers, comprising 38 local and three overseas companies.
It also featured a one-stop shop for employment pre-screening and advisory services provided by various national government agencies.
Government assistance was also provided to beneficiaries, as well as a two-part medical mission by the Department of Health, which offered screening laboratory services, X-rays, consultations, vaccinations and other services.
