By ZJ R. Ortigoza
During my studies for a Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management at Centro Escolar University in Makati City, I distinctly recalled a forum where the Department of Tourism invited a guest speaker. He discussed strategies outlined in the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) by emphasizing the urgent need to improve infrastructure and connectivity in our tourism’s industry. A key strategy highlighted was the collaboration between the government agencies and the private sectors to enhance access to tourism destinations, boost business activities, create jobs, and provide various multiplier effects to the communities.
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Photo credit: Skyscrapper City
Pangasinan faces challenges attracting local and foreign
tourists and investors due to its poor road infrastructure and accessibility,
despite its extensive land area and population of 3,163,190 as per the 2020
census of the Philippines Statistics Authority. News of the joint venture
agreement, however, for the Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEX) between San
Miguel Corporation (SMC) leads by the Forbes Magazine’s billionaire Mr. Ramon
Ang and the visionary Pangasinan Governor Ramon “Mon-Mon” Guico III brings
optimism to the folks for the economic turn-around of the provincial tourism
from the present snail paced state.
This collaboration aims to bridge the province’s east and
west corridors, spurring tourism and economic activities. Notably, the behemoth
multinational conglomerate’s San Miguel Corporation will cover the construction
costs at the staggering Php 34 billion while the provincial government gains a
substantial share of earnings from the toll gates the vehicle owners pay.
TWO PHASES
PLEX will have two phases: The first phase spanning from the
Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) in Binalonan to capital town’s
Lingayen with 42.76 km that significantly reduces travel time from 1 hour 40
minutes to just 20 to 30 minutes, while the second phase will extend further to
Alaminos, Pangasinan.
Phase 1 of PLEX will be split into three segments: the first
6.90-km section from Binalonan to Manaoag, followed by a 11.30-km section from
Manaoag to Calasiao, and the third segment, the 22.17-km section from Calasiao
to Lingayen. A 2.39-km spur road will also be built in Calasiao that could
benefit travelers from the nearby Dagupan City – the most populated local
government in forty-four towns and four cities’ Pangasinan.
Meanwhile, Phase 2 of the project will be a demand-driven expansion all the way to Alaminos, Pangasinan.
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EXPRESSWAY. San Miguel Corporation
President Ramon Ang and Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico III press flesh during
the joint venture and toll concession agreements of the Pangasinan Link
Expressway (PLEX) held at the Sison Auditorium at the Capitol in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
GAME CHANGER
Furthermore, after 35 years the project will be fully owned by the provincial
government because of the statute’s private-public partnership (PPP) mandate.
The Php 34 billion expressway project in Pangasinan is set to attract more
investors and address the issues faced by both local and foreign tourists.
These issues primarily stemmed from the inconvenience of travel and the lack of
adequate accessibility to our world-class tourism sites that include the
pristine white beaches of Bolinao and Dasol – which rival renowned destinations
like Boracay and Siargao -, the breathtaking beauty of Alaminos’ Hundred
Islands – with its 123 islets that are among the country’s most stunning
natural geological formations -, the cultural pilgrimage site of The Our Lady
of Manaoag Church – recognized as a “Basilica Minore” by the Vatican -, Malico
in San Nicolas – often referred as Pangasinan’s “Baguio” due to its elevation
of 1,675 meters -, surpassing that of Baguio City, and a lot more of
Pangasinan’s world class hidden gems. Bolinao Regional Airport is a
pet project of the Guico Administration and a new U.S$1 billion (P56 billion)
seaport and brewery are being constructed by SMC in San Fabian to enhance
travel links.
“PLEX is one of the most important projects, a
game-changer for Pangasinan and for this administration. This is because it is
envisioned to reinvent the transportation and enrich the tourism landscape;
prioritize accessibility of citizens to major towns and cities, magnify
business and livelihood opportunities, multiply economic activity, build more
infrastructure, and protect the environment,” said Guico.
The economics benefit of PLEX is vast, attracting tourists,
traders, and investors, thereby creating more jobs and contributing more tax
revenues for the province. Imagine esteemed commercial hotel brands like
Shangri-La, Marriott Hotel, and Holiday Inn, and prestigious bars like what we
saw in Siargao, San Juan La Union, and casinos like Okada, Solaire, and City of
Dreams will someday be relocating along the beaches of Western
Pangasinan. They can help attract deep pocketed tourists from South Korea,
the USA, Japan, Australia, and China to splurge their money for the benefit of
the locals and the province.
This strategic partnership between Guico and the SMC
is poised to elevate Pangasinan into an international tourism hub just like
Boracay and El Nido in Palawan, offering a comprehensive one-stop-shop
experience with world-class beaches, an airport, and various tourism amenities.
Indeed, this sweetheart deal chalked up by the zealous
governor – that could shame his predecessors – will undoubtedly transform
Pangasinan into a sought-after destination.
PHOTO CAPTION 1:
EXPRESSWAY. San Miguel Corporation
President Ramon Ang and Pangasinan Governor Ramon Guico III press flesh during
the joint venture and toll concession agreements of the Pangasinan Link
Expressway (PLEX) held at the Sison Auditorium at the Capitol in Lingayen, Pangasinan.
PHOTO CAPTION 2:
Photo credit: Skyscrapper City
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