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ISUZU
Philippines Corp. held an event recently entitled “Isuzu
Alterra Great Drive Great Life” from
Clark to Subic
and a group of motoring as well as lifestyle journalists
were given the first view of the dream-come-true
Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx). The journalists,
including this writer, were impressed by the world-class
and modern four-lane tollway in addition to the
breathtaking views. Travel time from the Clark Freeport
Zone to Subic was reduced to a mere 40 minutes, instead
of an hour-and-a-half if we had taken the normal route
through Porac or San Fernando, Pampanga.
SCTEx is
a project of the Bases Conversion and Development
Authority (BCDA) and is envisioned to serve as a
foundation of development in the Central Luzon region.
Mandated to transform former
US military bases into alternative civilian use, the BCDA is
one of the key corporations of the national government,
which generates revenues to fund flagship development
projects of President Arroyo.
SCTEx
will provide vital infrastructure support to the country
and expedite the creation of new economic possibilities
for the Filipino people.
This
project is now the
Philippines’
longest expressway and it is hoped that it will attract
investors worldwide through the integration of all
economic activities and link vital industrial, economic
and tourism zones in the Central Luzon region,
specifically the Clark Special Economic Zone, Subic Bay
Freeport Zone, Central Techno Park in Tarlac and the
Bataan Technology Park.
With the
Clark and Subic ecozones linked by the SCTEx, the cities
and provinces along its entire length will be opened up
to the rest of the world, propelling the Global Gateways
Development Program as the first step in driving the
country’s global competitiveness rating to be on a par
with world-class standards.
As of
this writing, the SCTEx has attained 96-percent
completion and according to BCDA’s public-relations
officer Roy Victor Rosales, “The remaining 4 percent
involves minor miscellaneous items, like guard-rail
installation, painting and some rectification work.”
President Arroyo opened the SCTEx for free to the public
during the Holy Week, dubbed as “Handog ni Pangulong
Gloria: Libreng Biyahe sa SCTEx.” BCDA president and CEO
Narciso Abaya said the dry run of the Subic-Clark
segment, which was temporarily opened only to light
vehicles, portends well for motorists bound for Bataan
and Subic.
SCTEx is
divided into two major sections. The first section—Subic-Clark—is
50.5 kilometers long and the second section—Clark-Tarlac—measures
43.27 km long. Undertaking the construction for Package
1 and Package 2 are the Kajima-Obayashi-JFE
Engineering-Mitsubishi Joint Venture and the
Hazama-Taisei-Nippon Steel Joint Venture, respectively.
SCTEx
involves a construction of eight interchanges; four
major bridges; 29 minor bridges; 44 underpasses; 303
drainage culverts; toll operation center; and toll
plazas. Additional three interchanges and one access
road will soon be built to intensify the expressway.
Building
SCTEx has generated more than 3,400 jobs at its peak
level. These include, but are not limited to, site
workers, heavy-equipment operators, engineers, SCTEx-PMO
staff and other construction-related profession.
SCTEx
project managers are now engaged in “punchlisting,” a
technical term for conducting a quality checklist for
every 20-meter sub-segment covering the entire
expressway. “If the findings are not up to the
specifications, BCDA will call the attention of the
contractor and require them to conform to the approved
technical specifications of the project,” Abaya said.
The
reported initial cost of the project is P27.405 billion,
of which 85 percent was loaned by the Japan Bank for
International Cooperation (JBIC) amounting to ¥41.93
billion, or P23.06 billion with an interest rate of .95
percent per annum and 15-percent BCDA counterpart, or P4
billion.
In time,
SCTEx will be expanded as far as Rosario in La Union,
practically at the foot of
Kennon Road leading to the City of
Baguio.
It will also be expanded eastward cutting across Nueva
Ecija to Dingalan Bay in Aurora as the first
eastward-bound expressway leading to the
Pacific Ocean. The
Central Luzon will not just have the finest agricultural lands but
it will also become the finest and most efficient
agro-industrial-logistical complex.
****
New
tollway to launch with sports and motoring weekend
THE
Philippines’ longest toll road will have a preinaugural
opening this weekend with a much-awaited “long weekend”
event that will let athletes, bikers and car lovers test
the new highway. Spanning nearly 94 km, the
P27.2-billion Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) is
the longest toll road to open in Philippine history.
By the
end of April, Bases Conversion and Development Authority
(BCDA) will formally open the SCTEx, which is set to
revolutionize the way business and leisure is conducted
in the region. To mark the preinaugural opening of the
SCTEx, the BCDA has organized a history-making weekend
of fun and excitement for the entire family. Billed as
The 94K Weekend, the April 18 to 20 event at Clark will
bring together the country’s biggest names to celebrate
the opening of the new toll road, which will be integral
to boosting Northern Luzon.
The 94K
Weekend has lined up a series of activities to showcase
the best the SCTEx has to offer. The Luzon Motorcycle
Federation Inc. (LMFI), a 250,000-strong organization of
motorcycle enthusiasts, is hosting the 94K Weekend 1st
LMFI Philippine International Motorcycle Exhibit and
Convention. Lasting for the duration of the event, it
will give motorcyclists the chance to connect with other
riders, pick up safety tips and view the country’s top
machines. To mark the ceremonial opening of the event,
there will be a torch relay featuring VIPs and
celebrities who have pledged their participation as a
way of supporting the SCTEx and applauding the many
benefits it is bringing to the area. Guests will also
get the chance to jump on their bikes and barrel down
flawlessly paved asphalt in the SCTEx Cycling
Challenge.
Meanwhile, wall climbers who are interested in heights
will be able to scale a special three-wall structure. To
satisfy thrill-seekers, BMW Philippines and BCDA are
teaming up to let drivers indulge in the 100-kph speed
limit with the 94K drive and 94K ride, which lets
drivers experience the smoothest ride in the most
luxurious sports cars and big bikes. The 94K drive and
94K ride is a high-octane exclusive for those who crave
the ultimate driving experience. Saturday night will be
capped off with an entertainment-filled extravaganza
featuring live music courtesy of Castrol and Boys Night
Out.
Part of
the action-packed weekend is a leisure and endurance
marathon. SCTEx will play host to the country’s best
marathon runners, as well as legions of weekend warriors
on the lookout for a change of pace and scenery. The
leisurely 10-km Fun Run will let families experience the
smooth asphalt of the SCTEx, while aspiring marathon
runners will be able to test their mettle during the
long-distance SCTEx marathon. For the grand finale, the
BCDA, in cooperation with R.O.X, has invited Pinoy Ultra
Runners to “run for their life” at the 94K Ultra
Marathon, which will benefit cancer patients around the country.
Built to
serve the needs of motorists, tourists, commuters and
the region’s residents and businessmen, the
state-of-the-art highway supports Northern Luzon’s move
toward progress. Be there when SCTEx ushers in the
future of Northern Luzon travel from April 18 to 20.
From 100-kph test-drives to challenging marathons, the
94K Weekend will let guests experience the best the
SCTEx has to offer. |
