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Written by Joyce Duldulao
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Wednesday, 03 March 2010 |
 In a meeting last March 01, 2010 at the Carworld Executive Lounge, initiated by PamCham Chairman Levy P. Laus and President Rene G. Romero, attended by Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez, DPWH Regional Director Alfredo Tolentino, DPWH Asst. Regional Director Marcelina Ocampo and Pampanga 1st District Engineer Jose Datu, PamCham Director Bong Mah and Engr. Marni Castro; the PamCham leadership handed over a letter to the DPWH which expressed its appreciation of the DPWH’s asphalt overlaying of the McArthur Highway and the Jose Abad Santos Avenue (JASA) in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. PamCham stated that the DPWH is clearly substantiating the cooperation and collaboration of the Public and Private sector
Also discussed during the meeting were further improvements in these
major thoroughfares in Pampanga to ensure continued development in the
province. PamCham Chairman Levy Laus stated however that the asphalt
road is still susceptible to potholes during the rainy season and lane
depressions caused by heavy vehicles. He proposed as a permanent
solution to these problems, the full concreting of the entire JASA
stretch in San Fernando. The DPWH agreed with the chairman’s proposal
but qualified that they would require fund allocation in the national
budget for its implementation. He further disclosed that included in the
plan is the widening of the bridge near Toyota proportionate to the
broader lanes along the JASA.
Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez also commended the DPWH R3 leadership in their
prioritization of the implementation of approved projects in the
province of Pampanga. He further explained that to further attract and
encourage investors to locate in the City of San Fernando, particularly
in the JASA stretch; a pedestrian walkway similar to the Champs Elysee
in Paris can be developed. He further noted that this will also
encourage people to walk to the malls, improving their health through
the much needed exercise.
PamCham President Rene Romero on the other hand suggested the
improvement of the U-TURN slots along the JASA through the provision of
steel barriers to isolate u-turning vehicles from those proceeding to
Mexico or NLEX, eliminating lane clogging and obstruction during rush
hours. To supplement this, President Rene Romero further suggested an
additional U-TURN slot under the bridge in near Toyota. According to
him, this will be for the use of the wider vehicles like trucks and
buses.
For the protection and safety of pedestrians crossing the highway, the
group proposed the construction of steel overpasses in strategic areas
along the JASA, much like the steel pedestrian overpasses in EDSA.
Overall, the meeting was very productive with both sectors aligned and
allied in their ultimate objective of enhancing and spurring economic
growth and development of the province of Pampanga. The Chamber promised
to relentlessly pursue its developmental advocacies and the public
sector represented by the DPWH and Mayor Oscar Rodriguez will strive to
provide critical logistics support for the proposed projects.
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