MANILA, Jan. 22 (PNA) — President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Wednesday the P26.7-billion Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 project will create some 18,000 jobs.
“Makakapaghatid ang proyektong ito ng halos 6,000 na direktang trabaho, at karagdagang 10 hanggang 12 libong indirect jobs sa panahon ng kostruksyon,” the Chief Executive said in his speech during the launching of the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 at the Buendia-end of the elevated section of the Skyway System in Makati City.
The project is expected to attract more investments, not only to Metro Manila but also in the CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) and Central Luzon, the President said.
The project will enhance the economic interaction of the CALABARZON, Metro Manila and Central Luzon that contribute to over 60% of the country’s gross domestic product.
“Sa totoo lang po, hindi madali ang pinagdaanan natin para marating ang araw na ito. Isipin po ninyo: Dekada 70 pa nang ilatag ang planong noo’y tinawag nilang Manila North at Manila South Expressways,” the President said.
“Makalipas po ang mga dekada, ngayon pa lang tayo maglulunsad ng ikatlong bahagi ng Metro Manila Skyway na inumpisahan noong dekada 90. Isa pong malinaw na dahilan: ang Construction and Development Corporation of the Philippines noon, na ngayo’y Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC), ay kulang sa kakayahang gawin ang proyekto,” he said.
“Sa harap po ng constitutional at legal issues na ito, malinaw po ang ating ginawa: Humanap tayo ng solusyon na alinsunod sa lahat ng batas, lalo na sa Saligang Batas. Kinausap natin ang mga katuwang na kompanya upang magkasundo sa implementasyon ng proyektong ito, at para hindi na maipit pa ang benepisyong ihahatid nito sa mamamayang Pilipino,” President Aquino stressed.
The Citra Central Expressway Corporation will start full-scale construction this April and complete the project in 36 months.
Team Skyway Stage 3 will exhaust all efforts to keep motorists, commuters and workers safe and the traffic moving at all possible time, especially in the vicinity of its work sites.
The Stage 3 alignment will mostly use existing road medians and, as much as possible, utilize Indonesia’s unique construction method of “Sosrobahu,” a frictionless rotating pierhead device, which allows for the construction of the elevated road without major traffic disruption.
“Sa atin pong mga kababayan, humihiling naman po ako ng kaunting pasensya at pang-unawa…Mahalaga po ang pakikiisa ng lahat sa anumang adjustment na ating gagawin para mabigyang-daan ang kostruksyon nito. Hinihiling ko rin ang suporta’t kooperasyon ng ating mga LGUs, partikular na sa isyu ng right of way,” the President said.
“Taos-puso ang pasasalamat natin sa bawat indibidwal at ahensiyang nakiambag sa tagumpay na ito—mula sa ating national agencies, local government units, hanggang sa pribadong sektor na naghahanda ng kanilang kapital, sa kabila ng mga naranasang pagsubok, dahil desidido silang makatulong,” he said. (PNA)