Valenzuela City’s business-friendly atmosphere awaits greater development as Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) breaks ground for the contruction of Php10 billion NLEX Harbor Link project, designed to stimulate trade and commerce through a more efficient road network in the northern Metro Manila, particularly in the CAMANAVA and Port Area.

Valenzuela City Mayor WIN Gatchalian refers to the project as a soon-to-rise gigantic edifice that shall represent a nearing robust economy for the Valenzuelanos. He also shares, “One way of proving to the business sector that their taxes are managed to work for them is to create futuristic infrastructures that would help them save on their operational costs.”

NLEX Harbor Link is an eight-kilometer road project which forms part of the NLEX Phase 2 expansion program being implemented by the MNTC, a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC).

MNTC President and CEO, Rodrigo E. Franco explained during the groundbreaking ceremony held last Thursday, February 7, that the NLEX Harbor Link which will start at the SMART Connect Interchange comes in two segments that will connect the MacArthur Highway and C-3 Road to the NLEX Main in Valenzuela City and the NLEX Mindanao Avenue Link.

Segment 9 is a 2.4-kilometer portion linking the NLEX Main in Valenzuela to McArthur Highway. Section 1 of this segment shall traverse Barangay Gen. T. De Leon and Barangay Parada, while Section 2 shall pass through Barangay Karuhatan and Barangay Maysan. It is expected to be completed in 12 months with estimated cost of Php 1.7 billion.

On the other hand, Segment 10 which is longer at 5.65 kilometers, starts where Segment 9 ends in McArthur Highway and stretches all the way down to C-3 Road in Port Area. Construction period was placed at 24 months at estimated cost of Php 6.33 billion.

Mayor WIN has ensured that the informal settler families (ISF) in Valenzuela City would not be negatively impacted by the project through relocation programs and financial assistance. Majority of the ISFs were relocated to Muzon, San Jose Del Monte, while some will be given new shelters at Disiplina Village, an in-city relocation site by the local government at Barangay Ugong. A number of families, on the other hand, opted for the Balik Probinsya program of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).

Once operational, the NLEX Harbor Link is seen to improve transport logistics and lower incidence of road accidents due to better road pavement and transport management.