In a unanimous decision, members of the Cordillera RDC  Executive Committee agreed to pass a resolution opposing the proposed realignment of the Urdaneta-Rosario section (Section 3) of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway or TPLEX.

The first realignment option (Alignment 1) being proposed by former Congressman Mark Cojuangco, would pass through Urdaneta City, then through San Fabian, Pangasinan,  and end at Brgy. Cataguintingan of Rosario, La Union.  This is about 1.48 kms. away from the original TPLEX end at Brgy. Subusob, Rosario.

The second option (alignment 1A) being proposed by the former legislator, will also pass through San Fabian but will end at the original TPLEX end at Brgy. Subusob.  The third option (Alignment 2) will pass through Pozorrubio, San Fabian, and then end at Brgy Subusub.

During its meeting on January 22, 2015, the RDC ExCom agreed that the proposed realignment will  be disadvantageous to the Cordillera Region because it will increase travel and transportation cost for products coming in and out of Baguio, Benguet and the rest of the Cordillera Region.  It will also result to delays in the completion of the project because the proposed changes in the project specifications will have to be submitted to the NEDA Investment Coordinating Committee (ICC) for study and approval.

Benguet Congressman Ronald Cosalan, who is also the Chairman of the Congress’ Committee on Public Works and Highways, sought the support of the RDC in opposing the proposed realignment, saying that this proposal would increase the project cost by at least Php 910 million which would eventually be transferred to the commuting public in terms of higher toll fees.

Fully supportive of the Congressman’s stand, NEDA-CAR, as the technical secretariat of the RDC, endorsed the resolution supporting the original TPLEX route.  (egdaquipil)