Bill seeks renaming NLEx after Cory

The House Committee on Public Works and Highways has passed a bill seeking to rename the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) to President Corazon C. Aquino Expressway (CAEX) in honor of President Aquino’s mother who is a global icon of democracy.

The panel, chaired by Benguet Rep. Ronald M. Cosalan, recently approved House Bill 4820, filed by Nueva Ecija Rep. Magnolia Rosa C. Antonino to perpetuate the memory of the late former President.

“If favorably passed into law, it will constantly remind us of the noble deeds of the late President especially for the poor, and inspire our people to emulate her example of selfless service to the nation while her exceptional courage and leadership gave hope and united the Filipino people at a critical time in the country’s history,” Antonino said.

HB 4820 tasks the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to be the implementing arm of the proposed Act.

The 84-kilometer NLEx was formerly called the Manila North Diversion Road and Manila North Expressway (MNEx) and officially known as Radial Road 8.

Built in the 1960s, it is one of the country’s main road arteries and has a daily traffic of over 16,000 cars.

The two to eight limited-access toll expressway linking Metro Manila to the provinces of the Central Luzon Region is maintained by the Manila North Tollways Corporation, a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation.

The NLEX starts from Quezon City and passes through Caloocan City and Valenzuela City in Metro Manila, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Balagtas, Guiguinto, Malolos, Plaridel and Pulilan in Bulacan, San Simon, San Fernando, Mexico, and Angeles City in Pampanga. It ends in Mabalacat City in Pampanga and merges with the MacArthur Highway, continuing northward into the rest of Central and Northern Luzon.