MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan, Aug. 20 (PNA) — The Regional Development Council (RDC) in Central Luzon has approved the reactivation of the Task Force Project Balik MacArthur (TF-PBM) to oversee the reassessment of the MacArthur Highway and ensure the road users’ safety, road traffic management and maintenance.
The RDC chaired by Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado approved the revival of the task force during its 9th council meeting on Wednesday.
The Regional Project Monitoring Team Committee (RPMC) and the Project Implementation Offices (PIO) endorsed its reactivation to the RDC chaired by Rene Romero, in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highway. It is embodied in their resolution No. 03-07-2015.
MacArthur Highway, formerly the Manila North Luzon Road, is one of the busiest arterial roads in the northwestern Luzon.
The volume of traffic started to move from North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) to the two lanes and congested MacArthur Highway after NLEX operator Manila North Tollways Corporation raised toll rates significantly few years ago.
The RDC thus organized then the TF-PBM to implement strategies to address more traffic congestions and increased of pedestrian and vehicular accidents.
The task force achieved positive results from the conduct of series of multi-sectoral consultations and site inspections not only to alleviate the traffic problems along the MacArthur Highway but would also rev up the economic activities in the area.
Meanwhile, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Pampanga 1st District Rep. Joseller Yeng Guiao, Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, Bataan Governor Abet Garcia, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Severino Santos and officials of concerned government agencies and private sector also attended the full council meeting. (PNA)