President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday touted the 12,000 kilometers worth of roads and more than 1,200 bridges built across the country as of May.

In his third State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Marcos noted that a budget has already been provided for the upgrade of 367 bridges and nearly 1,600 kilometers of road in Maharlika Highway.

“As of May this year, twelve thousand kilometers worth of roads and more than one thousand two hundred bridges have been built and upgraded across the country,” he said.

“Of note, we have provided the budget to upgrade three hundred sixty-seven bridges and almost one thousand six hundred kilometers of road along our country’s longest thoroughfare — the Maharlika Highway — from Luzon all the way to Mindanao,” he added.

The President also highlighted the inauguration of expressways connecting North, Central, and South Luzon and Manila, which include the Luzon Spine Expressway Network; the ongoing construction of C-LEX, NLEX-SLEX Connector, and the Plaridel Bypass to be fully completed by the end of this year; and the CALAX and the C5 South Link, which are expected to fully operate next year.

Moreover, significant segments of major expressways, which are part of the Luzon Spine Expressway Network, have now been opened to the public, he said.

The C-LEX, NLEX-SLEX Connector, and the Plaridel Bypass will be fully completed by the end of this year. CALAX and the C5 South Link will be fully operational by next year, he added.

“Dahil sa mga mahahalagang daan na ito, ang Norte, Gitnang Luzon, Maynila, at Katimugang Luzon ay lalo pa ngayong magiging mas konektado sa isa’t isa,” the President said.

President Marcos also cited two major bridges under the Inter-Island Linkage Bridge Program to be opened for motorists this year: the Panguil Bay Bridge, connecting Lanao del Norte to Misamis Occidental; and the Guicam Bridge in Zamboanga Sibugay, connecting Olutanga Island to the mainland of Mindanao.

“Under our Inter-Island Linkage Bridge Program, we expect two major bridges to be opened to motorists this year. One is the Panguil Bay Bridge — touted as the longest water-spanning bridge in Northern Mindanao. [applause] This bridge will connect Lanao del Norte to Misamis Occidental. The other is the Guicam Bridge in Zamboanga Sibugay, which shall connect Olutanga Island to the mainland of Mindanao,” the President pointed out. PND