AFTER staying in limbo for over five years, the contract for the operations and maintenance of the 94-kilometer Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) was signed by the toll road unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) late Thursday.
What remains to be done, according to Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) President Rodrigo E. Franco, is for the Toll Regulatory Board to discuss and approve the thoroughfare’s supplemental toll operations agreement.
“We hope they can take up the matter in their board meeting next month,” he said in a text message.
The contract was signed by businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan and BCDA President and CEO Arnel
Paciano D. Casanova.
President Aquino and French President François Hollande witnessed the ceremonial signing that was held at the Malacañan Palace on Thursday.
MNTC also turned over a check worth P3.5 billion to the BCDA as part of its bid to win the much-coveted deal.
Casanova said his group is particularly delighted with the turnout, especially since it will pave way for the integration of the North Luzon Expressway (Nlex) and the SCTEx.
“We are happy that finally, the contract is signed, and we can move on with the full operation and further upgrading and development of the SCTEx, particularly the Nlex-SCTEx toll integration, as well as providing the facilities and service areas that are needed to serve the public,” he said. The contract was awarded on February 9, after the BCDA failed to muster bids for the contract’s price challenge.
Mr. Aquino late last year directed the state-run disposition agency to subject the offer of MNTC to a price challenge “in the interest of transparency and for competition.”
“The price challenge was conducted in a very transparent manner. We are grateful to MNTC for keeping the faith to undergo a process of fair and transparent competition. This just proves that good governance is good economics. The seal of transparency and integrity serves as the unbreakable bond of the sanctity of this contract,” Casanova said.
Franco noted that the signing of the agreement means that the 94-km thoroughfare will soon be at par with its 90-km sibling.
“The management, operation and maintenance of the road and its facilities, the brand of customer service available, and the world-class technology used in Nlex will all be extended to the SCTEx,” Franco said.
Under the SCTEx Business Agreement, MNTC shall be responsible for the management services, toll collection, traffic safety and security management, toll road and facilities maintenance, including greening and landscaping, public relations and marketing, and all necessary support services.
The agreement also includes the payment of concession fees equivalent to 50 percent of SCTEx gross toll revenues. The contract period will be for 28 years until October 30, 2043.
The 94-km expressway allows for the merging of Clark and Subic Bay Freeport Zones into a single facility resulting in the convergence of land-, air-, and sea-based transport.