Motorists going to Bulacan will soon have a better travel experience after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) through the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Thursday, 22 July 2021, with the NLEX Corporation, the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Marilao municipal government to start the construction of the Marilao East Service Road Project.

DOTr Secretary Art Tugade, who also chairs the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), signed the MOA along with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 3 Director Roseller Tolentino, Bulacan Fourth District Representative Henry Villarica, NLEX Corporation President and General Manager J. Luigi Bautista, Marilao Mayor Ricardo Silvestre, and Meycauyan Mayor Linabelle Villarica.

“Transportation means accessibility. Accessibility also means convenience. They go hand in hand. Kaya sa kahit anumang paraan na makatutulong tayo, sa paraang makapagbibigay tayo ng ginhawa sa ating mga kababayan, hindi po magdadalawang isip ang Kagawaran. We are partners in the whole-of-government approach to make the lives of the Filipino people more comfortable and convenient,” Sec. Tugade said.

During the signing ceremony, TRB Executive Director Atty. Alvin Carullo echoed the transportation chief’s message as he pledged the TRB’s cooperation for the completion of the Marilao East Service Road.

“This project shows what solidarity and harmonious relationship between the public and private sectors can bring. What the TRB can guarantee is 100% support and assistance for the successful completion of this project,” ED Carullo said.

As stated in the MOA, NLEX Corporation gives the DPWH in Region 3 permission to use its ROW for the Marilao East Service Road Project.

“This project will ultimately benefit the public as this will provide our host communities in Meycauayan City and Marilao better connection and improved accessibility. We are more than happy to help facilitate the mobility needs of the two growing LGUs,” NLEX Corporation President J. Luigi L. Bautista said.

The Marilao East Service Road Project which will occupy a portion of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) right of way (ROW). It starts from the Barcelona Academy Inc. in Barangay Lias and ends at the Mario Santiago Road in Marilao, Bulacan.

Marilao Mayor Ricardo Silvestre said it is necessary to open a more direct local route to and from these areas to ease the expanding traffic volume at the Meycauayan- Marilao Corridor.

The MOA also states that the use of the NLEX ROW for the construction of the project will be on a temporary basis pending the acquisition of lots for its own ROW by the DPWH Region 3 for the permanent Marilao East Service Road.

Areas covered by the Marilao East Service Road project remain part of the NLEX and remain to be a limited access facility as covered in the Limited Access Highway Act or the Republic Act No. 2000.

“Subject to the terms and conditions, access to the NLEX may be reasonably regulated, restricted, or prohibited by the DOTr-TRB. At all times during the effectivity of this agreement, DPWH Region 3 and the government of Marilao in Bulacan shall exert its utmost efforts to abide by NLEX Corporation’s reasonable regulations regarding ingress to NLEX,” the MOA state