The urbanization of Laguna’s western portion started in the 1970s when the South Luzon Expressway was constructed linking Alabang, Muntinlupa with Makati, both towns still in the province of Rizal because there was no Metro Manila yet.
Before this, going to Manila from our town in Paete, Laguna was a gruelling 5-hour journey. There used to be an LTB bus from Laguna’s easternmost town of Sta. Maria which can be boarded in Paete, and upon reaching Alabang, it had to take the Alabang-Zapote road towards Harrison St. in Pasay City, then to Manila. At that time, Dewey (Roxas) Blvd. ended somewhere in San Juan De Dios Hospital, where EDSA would later cross it, creating a vital intersection.
Public transport changed after some time. From Paete, you’ll have to take a jeepney to Sta. Cruz, the capital of the province, then take the BLTB bus or Laguna Transit bus to Manila, using the same route above. I don’t know why but as a child, I used to vomit on every trip with the red bus (BLTB) perhaps because of the strong diesel fumes, but I did not vomit when we rode the yellow bus (Laguna Transit) which was less of a polluter.
I remember now that in the late 60s and early 70s, the bus stopped in Sta. Cruz where you can buy kesong puti, balot and penoy. In Calauan, the bus stopped again where boys carrying three pineapples each would entice commuters to buy the fruits: three for one peso, or 33 centavos each. Among these boys—I would later know—were the brothers Bert and Joey Lina from nearby Victoria town. Later, Joey would be elected governor of Laguna after a stint as senator.
Next stop for the bus going to Manila was Calamba, the hometown of Dr. Jose Rizal, where the delicacies for sale in the bus were native corn, boiled to perfection. Biñan was not a regular bus stop, but sometimes the bus driver slowed down and vendors carrying “puto Biñan” were allowed on board and sold the delicacy made famous by the place. From there, it would be a short trip to Alabang, then Zapote, and Baclaran in Parañaque. After which, the bus proceeded to Taft Avenue in Pasay City and then Manila, with the trip ending in Plaza Lawton and sometimes in Divisoria.
The trip back more or less followed the same route.
When Joey Lina was governor in 1995 to 2001, before he became secretary of DILG, he started the widening of the old highway in the areas of Pansol, Calamba and Los Banos, somewhat easing the traffic congestion there. But the businesses and residents took control of the widened spaces, setting up their “talyers” and street foods kiosks, negating the advantages brought about by the street widening.
When E. R. Ejercito was governor in 2013, he peeved President Noynoy Aquino for coming in late for a meeting in Malacañang on the proposed construction of the Laguna Lakeshore highway to ease mobility for motorists and commuters. Nothing much was achieved during that time.
These plans saw the beginnings of turning into reality under Gov. Ramil Hernandez and President Rodrigo Duterte, during which time the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) completed the plans and started acquiring land from Parañaque residents where the lakeshore highway is to start, as per the approved design.
After decades of suffering the long hours of being stuck in traffic, Laguna folk may now heave a sigh of relief as the decades-old traffic congestion problem in Laguna will soon be solved by the Marcos administration.
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., approved on Monday key changes to the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network (LLRN) Project.
In its 19th meeting in Malacañang, the NEDA Board approved changes to the Phase 1 scope of the LLRN Project, which now includes the development of connecting roads and interchanges in various locations, among others.
“We have a motion to approve the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network Project Phase 1 …confirmed and approved the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network Project Phase 1 changes in scope, extension of implementation period and revised financing strategy,” President Marcos said.
These locations encompass Barangay Tunasan in Muntinlupa City, as well as San Pedro, Biñan, and Cabuyao in Laguna.
Initially approved in 2021, the project entails the construction of a 37.5-kilometer primary road and a 12-kilometer viaduct from Lower Bicutan, Taguig, to Tunasan, Muntinlupa, along with a 25.5-kilometer shoreline viaduct and embankment from Tunasan, Muntinlupa, to Calamba, Laguna.
The project is expected to stimulate economic activity in the National Capital Region (NCR), CALABARZON, and Central Luzon upon its completion in 2027.
NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, who also serves as the NEDA Board Vice Chairperson, said the Board also recognizes the significant potential of the project in reducing transportation constraints on existing road networks, promoting economic development in the region, and providing safer, more convenient, and faster travel for road users in Laguna and nearby provinces.
Meanwhile, the second phase of the LLRN Project, which will traverse the eastern portion of Laguna Lake from Binangonan, Rizal, to Calamba, Laguna, is currently under feasibility study and is slated for completion by December 2024. The project will have an approximate mainline total length of 71.5 kilometers.
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