The newly opened Arterial Road Bypass Project Phase III, or ARBP III, contract package 4 in Bulacan province would reduce travel time between Balagtas and San Rafael towns from one hour to just 24 minutes, a 75-percent decrease.

The 7.64-kilometer bypass road is part of the 23-kilometer ARBP III and offers a convenient alternative route from Balagtas to San Rafael, vastly speeding up the transport of agricultural products and services from Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and the Cagayan Valley to Metro Manila.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in a speech read for him by Special Assistant to the President Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr., said the "project is an important step towards the realization of our dream of a better Philippines that is filled with hope, brimming with optimism, and teeming with boundless opportunities."

The ARBP III contract package 4 includes the widening of the road from two to four lanes, as well as the construction of 10 bridges and three flyovers. The total project cost is P5.26 billion, with P4.25 billion funded by a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, or JICA.

President Marcos assured the public the administration is committed to completing all ARBP III works by March 2024. He expressed gratitude to JICA for its support and recognized the Department of Public Works and Highways for its relentless efforts in finishing the project.

"JICA has long been a steadfast partner in our journey to improve our infrastructure, and we hope for continued collaboration in our future endeavors," Marcos said.

The President also noted that there are 197 flagship infrastructure projects, including transportation connectivity works, in various stages of development under the "Build, Better, More" program.