Cosalan hits Cojuangco’s moves to transfer TPLEX Rosario exit

‘Travel time would take longer from Baguio to Manila’ 

BAGUIO CITY – Benguet  Rep. Ronald Cosalan assailed Thursday a proposal of former Pangasinan Mark Cojuangco to transfer exit of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) saying this would cost government another P1 billion and delay the project.

Based on original plan, the 88-km TPLEX will exit in Rosario, which is proximate to Marcos Highway and Kennon Road, two major roads to Baguio and Cordillera.

Cosalan, chair of Congress committee on public works and highways said the transfer would add another five to seven kilometers to the project and make travel from Baguio to Manila longer.  

Vegetable farmers of Benguet and Mountain Province who supply daily needs of Manila and lowland consumers, aside from other travelers, he said, would have to spend more on fuel or fare considering it would take longer for them to reach destinations.

He urged Cordillera officials to support him in his quest to have the original program of work for the TPLEX be followed.

Cosalan said he was due to hold a meeting with the Regional Development Council early February to tackle the matter.

He added to date, Cordillera congressmen Maximo Dalog of Mountain Province and Nick Aliping of Baguio City were with him in efforts not to transfer exit of TPLEX.

Baguio mayor Mauricio Domogan was quoted earlier in reports as saying he was in favor of Cojuangco’s proposal while Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan said both sides have their merits. 

Mark, son of businessman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr., said Tuesday his efforts to transfer the route started in 2009.

He said Cosalan was misinformed but this was disputed by the latter here Thursday.

Mark said his proposed route would pass through the towns of Pozorrubio, Sison, both in Pangasinan, and in Rosario, La Union.

“At no point will it pass through Santo Tomas and skirt to San Jacinto and San Fabian for a few hundred meters,” the former congressman said.

He said in his proposed route, the TPLEX would still pass through Binalonan, Pozorrubio and Sison but would exit in Barangay Cataguintingan in Rosario.

“The diversion adds only less than five kilometers to Saitan town,” Cojuangco said.

He said the Department of Public Works and Highways and the National Economic and Development Authority did not consult the residents of Pozorrubio and Sison about the original route.

But Cosalan said Thursday additional five or more kilometers would be costly.

He added the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources had given an environment clearance certificate for the project to commence making the DPWH issue an order to proceed with the project basing from original plan.

The Benguet solon said it is a given that public consultations were held considering that the DENR issued an ECC to the project.

Cosalan said Cojuangco’s proposal would beat the original purpose of TPLEX, which was to boost tourism in Pangasinan, Ilocos, the Cordilleras and other parts of Northern Luzon.

Cosalan and Aliping earlier met officials in their respective districts to gather opposition to the proposed rerouting of TPLEX to San Fabian.

In 2011, Cojuangco requested amendments for the proposed 88-kilometer expressway to be rerouted through San Fabian. 

Cosalan earlier said the proposal would be disadvantageous to the people of the Cordillera especially Baguio, Benguet, Mountain Province, and nearby Ilocos Sur.

“These moves will not only set back the timetable for the total development of the areas intended to be benefitted by the construction of the TPLEX but will also erase the gains already brought about by the progress of its construction in accordance with the original plan,” said Aliping.

“Altering the approved road design, which would lead to the junction of Kennon Road in Rosario town in La Union province, would cost the government P1 billion more to finance the construction and address road right-of-way issues and would add 7 more kilometers to the original design,” said Aliping and Cosalan in a statement.

Both Aliping and Cosalan had asked the Baguio City Council and Benguet Provincial Board to issue resolutions expressing their objections to the TPLEX rerouting.