Stakeholders told to help for speedy Subic-Clark road works
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Businessmen in Pampanga and Bataan, led by the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (PamCham), have called on government and private stakeholders of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) project to work together for the immediate completion of the much-vaunted modern toll road.
A resolution signed by officers of PamCham, Advocates for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL), Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Maccii), Bataan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Bacci) and Clark Investors and Locators Association (Cila) reiterated the groups' support to the SCTEx project.
The businessmen's resolution came amid reports that the construction of the 94-kilometer toll road that would connect Tarlac to Clark and Subic has been hampered by right-of-way (ROW) issues.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), the government firm that oversees the SCTEx project, has already paid -- as its counterpart fund for the foreign-funded project -- P500 million for ROW.
However, several ROW cases, which have yet to be settled now cause delay to the construction.
"Despite the vigorous effort of BCDA to resolve issues regarding ROW acquisition, these have significantly hampered construction works in some segments. Any delay in the construction schedule could translate to millions worth of delay cost coupled by lost opportunities," the businessmen said.
The traders believed that that delays related to ROW acquisition could have been prevented if all concerned agencies specifically the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DRA), and the respective local government units cooperate to expedite acquisition, "with due respect to the rights of the legitimate property owners."
On Wednesday, the business leaders met with several officials of BCDA, LandBank and the Department of Land Reform (DLR) at the DLR regional office in this city to discuss the reported "squabble" between the government bank and BCDA that resulted in the delay in ROW case settlement.
In the meeting, however, both Gen. Robert Gervacio of the BCDA ROW department and LandBank head for agrarian operations Carlota Manalo denied that there is a dispute between the two government agencies.
"In fact, the BCDA and LandBank have been working together to settle the ROW issues that hound the SCTEx project," said Manalo.
Gervacio said the BCDA has resorted to expropriation on properties whose owners did not agree on the land values that LandBank has set for the affected parcels of land.
With the expropriation cases filed, the bases agency said the property owners would be assured to receive just compensation on their lands even as the government agency proceeds with the project.
At least 300 pending land cases and ROW claims have yet to be resolved, hindering LandBank from releasing certificates of full payment (CFP) of farmer-beneficiaries.
The BCDA, in buying the affected lands, need the CFP as a prerequisite in the transfer of titles in favor of the government.
PamCham president Rene Romero has called on all concerned to give way for the speedy completion of SCTEx, which is expected to provide a major boost in the economy of the region and the country.
"We should not look at the short term profits in the issue of ROW. The affected parties should eye the long-term benefits the project would bring when it is completed," Romero said.
A resolution signed by officers of PamCham, Advocates for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL), Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Maccii), Bataan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Bacci) and Clark Investors and Locators Association (Cila) reiterated the groups' support to the SCTEx project.
The businessmen's resolution came amid reports that the construction of the 94-kilometer toll road that would connect Tarlac to Clark and Subic has been hampered by right-of-way (ROW) issues.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), the government firm that oversees the SCTEx project, has already paid -- as its counterpart fund for the foreign-funded project -- P500 million for ROW.
However, several ROW cases, which have yet to be settled now cause delay to the construction.
"Despite the vigorous effort of BCDA to resolve issues regarding ROW acquisition, these have significantly hampered construction works in some segments. Any delay in the construction schedule could translate to millions worth of delay cost coupled by lost opportunities," the businessmen said.
The traders believed that that delays related to ROW acquisition could have been prevented if all concerned agencies specifically the Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DRA), and the respective local government units cooperate to expedite acquisition, "with due respect to the rights of the legitimate property owners."
On Wednesday, the business leaders met with several officials of BCDA, LandBank and the Department of Land Reform (DLR) at the DLR regional office in this city to discuss the reported "squabble" between the government bank and BCDA that resulted in the delay in ROW case settlement.
In the meeting, however, both Gen. Robert Gervacio of the BCDA ROW department and LandBank head for agrarian operations Carlota Manalo denied that there is a dispute between the two government agencies.
"In fact, the BCDA and LandBank have been working together to settle the ROW issues that hound the SCTEx project," said Manalo.
Gervacio said the BCDA has resorted to expropriation on properties whose owners did not agree on the land values that LandBank has set for the affected parcels of land.
With the expropriation cases filed, the bases agency said the property owners would be assured to receive just compensation on their lands even as the government agency proceeds with the project.
At least 300 pending land cases and ROW claims have yet to be resolved, hindering LandBank from releasing certificates of full payment (CFP) of farmer-beneficiaries.
The BCDA, in buying the affected lands, need the CFP as a prerequisite in the transfer of titles in favor of the government.
PamCham president Rene Romero has called on all concerned to give way for the speedy completion of SCTEx, which is expected to provide a major boost in the economy of the region and the country.
"We should not look at the short term profits in the issue of ROW. The affected parties should eye the long-term benefits the project would bring when it is completed," Romero said.
By Albert B. Lacanlale - SunStar
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
9:21 AM
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