The Ilocos Norte provincial government on Monday welcomed a partnership with the Department of Transportation to fund the construction of a P380-million Ilocos Norte Central Terminal Hub designed to help alleviate traffic congestion in central business areas here.
Cipriano Martinez III, Metro Ilocos Norte Council (MINC) general manager, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc have signed a memorandum of agreement on the matter even as they were completing the requirements for the fund to be downloaded.
The transport hub to be constructed in Barangay 5, San Pedro, Laoag City was designed as an intermodal terminal with multi-level platforms to alleviate traffic congestion in business districts and provide seamless interconnectivity of various modes of transportation, such as public utility jeepneys, buses, taxis, vans and tricycles.
It would also function as a transfer point for commuters entering and exiting the province, making land travel more convenient and comfortable.
DOTr brought delegates from the provincial government to the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange and North Luzon Express Terminal to apprise them about concept of the infrastructure project.
According Martinez, the MINC office would be in charge of overseeing the operation of the transportation hub.
He said no fees would be collected to transportation groups that shall use the terminal building.