The first section of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Connector is now complete. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the inauguration last March 27 of the 5.15-kilometer Caloocan-España section of the NLEX Connector.

This part of the NLEX Connector bridges C3 Road, Caloocan and España in Manila. It is expected to ease traffic along España Boulevard, Abad Santos Avenue, Rizal Avenue and Lacson Avenue, and provide easier access to several areas, including the University Belt.

Moreover, it will reduce travel time to and from Caloocan and Manila to only five minutes, contributing to easier movement of cargo and goods, particularly those coming from the Port of Manila.

The newly-inaugurated section is part of the eight-kilometer NLEX-South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Connector Road Project that stretches from Caloocan to the vicinity of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila. The second segment is expected to be completed by the 2nd quarter of the year.

Once fully operational, it will serve around 35,000 vehicles daily. It is also expected to reduce travel time between NLEX to SLEX from more than an hour to just 20 minutes.

This is the product of continuity — from Build, Build, Build to Build Better More. From the onset, President Marcos acknowledged the importance of the Build, Build, Build program of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

In fact, in his speech at the inauguration, President Marcos said that his administration will sustain and accelerate the momentum started by the Duterte administration in terms of infrastructure development.

President Marcos stressed that he will continue and complete these projects “as efficiently as we can, crucial as they are in achieving our national development goals.”

He added that under the Build Better More program, his administration will further push for the interconnectivity of major roads and expressways, and build needed roads and bridges in strategic places around the country.

Public investment in infrastructure — both physical and digital —is an effective fiscal stimulus. Build, Build, Build was a much needed infrastructure intervention six years ago. I am ecstatic that President Bongbong Marcos sustained the momentum with Build Better More, and even included investments in digital infrastructure.