House Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. on Tuesday thanked the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) for finally issuing a “notice to proceed” to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corp. for the construction of the third Candaba viaduct.

Gonzales, the representative of the 3rd District of Pampanga, also thanked all the stakeholders, including from both government and private sectors, for working hard to realize the project which he pushed some seven years ago.

An initial amount of PHP6 billion has been allocated for the project to augment the 47-year-old bridges that have recently been retrofitted.

Gonzales earlier met with the officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways, TRB and NLEX Corp. officials to convince them to join hands to make sure that the new Candaba viaduct is constructed while the original bridges remain passable.

He said that while the two viaducts over the vast Candaba swamps have withstood the test of time, a strong earthquake or further “wear-and-tear” may compromise their integrity.

“The new bridge will give us the assurance that North Luzon will remain connected to Metro Manila whatever happens to the old spans,” he added.

NLEX Corp. plans to finish the construction of the new bridge by the end of next year.

The new viaduct will cover the towns of Pulilan in Bulacan, and Candaba and Apalit in Pampanga.

“Though these bridges are not part of my district, my constituents and the people of Pampanga are among the many stakeholders who benefit from the continued operation of these viaducts, so I take it upon myself to work hard to see this project bear fruit,” Gonzales said. (PNA)