MANILA, Philippines — Food-to-infrastructure conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has started the civil works for the Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEX), laying the bedrock for a P34-billion project that would improve travel and tourism in Northern Luzon.

SMC on Thursday broke ground for the first phase of PLEX, setting in motion the construction for a toll road that will run for 42.76 kilometers.

The groundbreaking was held in a site spanning the municipalities of Binalonan and Laoac in Pangasinan.

SMC president and CEO Ramon Ang stressed the important role that PLEX will play in boosting mobility and trade in Pangasinan. The project, as designed, will connect the eastern and western corridors of the province.

“We believe in the bigger potential of the province and its people, and that is why we continue to invest here. We look forward to continuing our strong partnership, and with the help and support of the provincial government, create more jobs, livelihood and business opportunities,” Ang said.

PLEX is estimated to shorten the travel time from the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) to Pangasinan’s capital Lingayen to less than an hour, from 1.5 hours.

The first phase of PLEX covers a total of three segments: a 6.9-km stretch from Binalonan to Manaoag; a 11.3-km road to Calasiao; and a 22.17-km section to Lingayen, along with a 2.39-km spur line to Calasiao.

PLEX will be connected to TPLEX, another toll road operated by SMC, providing an access link to the New Manila International Airport—also being built by SMC—in Bulacan.

There is a possibility that PLEX will be extended down the line. The second phase of PLEX will provide an access road to Alaminos, home to famed destinations Hundred Islands and Pilgrimage Island.

Under the concession agreement, SMC will shoulder all of the cost in putting up the expressway. The province, on the other hand, will take a five percent share in toll and commercial revenues, and will also get a 30 percent cut in earnings before taxes once the project’s internal rate of return exceeds 10 percent.

Ang vowed to finish the toll road as scheduled if the concessionaire gets the right of way for the project on time.

“The provincial government will also receive a substantial share of the project’s earnings, which it can use to provide more social services to our kababayans,” Ang said.