The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is seeking a $2 billion loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to build the first phase of the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network (LLRN) project.
The agency said the construction of the LLRN will connect the southern Laguna province to Metro Manila along the western coastline of Laguna Lake and provide a safer, faster alternative and reliable transportation link.
The project involves the construction of a 21.5-kilometer viaduct and a 15.9-kilometer embankment along the west shoreline of Laguna Lake, starting from Barangay Lower Bicutan in Taguig to Calamba City in Laguna.
It will also cover the construction of eight interchanges connecting the municipal boundaries to the nearest public road along Lower Bicutan, Sucat, Alabang, Tunasan, San Pedro/Biñan, Santa Rosa, Cabuyao, and Calamba, for a total cost of P175.3-billion.
The DPWH said the LLRN 1 project is seen boosting the connectivity between Metro Manila and Laguna, reduce transport time and costs, and improve access to markets and to attract tourists to the area.
JICA previously estimated that economic losses attributable to traffic congestion was estimated at P3.5 billion per day in 2017 in the National Capital Region and P2.5 billion in surrounding provinces, including Laguna.
These losses will rise to P5.4 billion per day in the NCR and P5.9 billion per day in surrounding areas by 2035 if no action is taken.
The feasibility study for LLRN Phase 2 in the northern to southern coastline via an eastern route is almost complete. Its detailed engineering design will be included in the civil works loan for LLRN Phase 1.
DPWH has already submitted the planned LLRN project to National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for approval and endorsement to the Department of Finance (DOF) for loan application.
“With 85.1 percent of the detailed engineering design (DED) for LLRN already complete, DPWH has started negotiations to gather support from possible financing institutions crucial in the realization of this flagship infrastructure project,” Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said.
