Reducing the travel time from Tarlac to the city to just 20 minutes.
On Tuesday, March 31, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the opening of the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) Contract Package 4
The newly opened segment extends CLLEX from the San Juan Interchange in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija, to the Cabanatuan exit, which connects the Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway (TPLEX) to Cabanatuan City.
With that, the portion, which completes Phase 1 of the 29.2-kilometer four-lane expressway, improves connectivity and significantly reduce travel time between Tarlac and Cabanatuan from 90 minutes to just 20.
The CLLEX Phase 1 is a P10-billion project funded through official development assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The newly opened segment is also expected to benefit approximately 11,500 motorists daily and will be toll-free until December.
“Libre muna. Kaya puwede nang dumaan ang mga iba’t ibang truck para marilyebo natin pa ang traffic sa MacArthur (Highway),” the President said. “Basta’t bumilis ang biyahe, nababawasan ang bayad sa konsumo at ‘yung produkto na dinadala ng ating mga truck ay hindi tataas ang presyo. Kaya ‘yan ang malaking epekto dito.”
He also remarked, “Malaking bagay ito dahil unang-una, alam naman natin ngayon na ang inaalala natin ang konsumo ng krudo, ng gasolina ay sa bawas ng tagal ng biyahe ay mababawasan din ang konsumo sa fuel.”
Marcos also underscored the importance of the expressway to the entire province of Nueva Ecija, which is known as the country’s rice granary, noting that improved road access will help reduce transport costs and support efforts to keep rice prices stable.
The lower logistics expenses he told, are crucial in preventing price increases in essential goods, particularly food, which are often affected by rising fuel prices.
The Chief Executive further said the project forms part of broader efforts to enhance transportation networks, particularly by developing east-west corridors that complement existing north-south highways.
Once completed, CLLEX will improve access across Luzon, decongest major roads like the MacArthur Highway, and make it easier to move goods and people throughout the region.
Its opening comes a day after the President led the opening of a new CAVITEX-C5 Link in Parañaque City, which then improves connectivity in the south.