If you’ve ever tried commuting to Bonifacio Global City for work, you’ll know that getting in and out of it is almost always a pain in the ass. And while traffic might not be as bad as before, one can only imagine the carnage that will ensue along the financial district’s roads once everything really gets back to normal. Unless, of course, the Santa Monica-Lawton Bridge can do something about it.

This elevated link between Pasig and Taguig opened today, and is one of the many projects being fast-tracked by the government as part of its “Build, Build, Build” program. Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar has bold claims about the bridge’s supposed effect on Metro Manila’s traffic. One of them is the estimated crossing time of just 12 minutes.

The Santa Monica-Lawton Bridge is just one small part of the government’s goal to make every city in Metro Manila reachable within 30 minutes of each other. The DPWH secretary is optimistic that such a lofty target can be achieved once all of Skyway Stage 3’s entry and exit ramps are opened.