BCDA firm on its stand to build only one interchange on SCTEx

Says 2 expressway interchanges to cost gov’t R550 M more, BCDA firm on its stand to build only one interchange on SCTEx

By FRED ROXAS - Manila Bulletin

ANGELES CITY -- "We are standing by the directive of the President to build the Porac-Angeles City interchange."

Thus declared Robert Gervacio, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) project spokesperson and program manager for operational support services.

He said that the location of the interchange came "as a result of consultations" with provincial and city officials.

Reacting to a proposal of some Central Luzon leaders to build two interchanges instead of one, Gervacio said that the proposal would cost the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) – "and, therefore, the government," a whopping R838 million, which is R550 million more than the R280-million budget for the Porac-Angeles interchange.

"It is not true that building the two interchanges would cost only R400 million. "It’s more than double that amount," he said.

Gervacio also said that constructing two interchanges "would be very costly" because an interchange at Margot would cost the government R578 million, and the Porac-Angeles interchange, R260 million.

Based on actual ground condition and estimates, the proposed Margot interchange alone would incur huge cost due to the following construction activities and structures: ground setting, installing a 120-meter bridge over the Abacan River, constructing a 1.25-kilometer Clark access road and two underpasses.

In addition, operating and maintaining the two interchanges will be more costly in the long run.

Likewise, the extension of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport’s third runway is located in Margot, Gervacio said.

Gervacio said that even with the donation of the right-of-way land, the cost of the originally proposed Porac interchange would still be R260 million. These include the construction of the ramps, power supply lines, toll plaza, and toll-collection system.

"We want to listen to everybody who has a stake in SCTEx, but we need to move on with the President’s directive to build the R280-million Porac-Angeles City interchange, so that we can open the expressway as scheduled," Gervacio said.

"The bottom line is that more expenses mean higher toll fees charged against the public," he said.

Earlier, a broad-based coalition has expressed support for the President’s stand on building the interchange in Porac-Angeles City.

The coalition includes the Pampanga sangguniang panlalawigan, Angeles sangguniang panglungsod, and presidents of business groups and NGOs.

In a resolution they sent to the President, they stated that among the three proposals, the Porac-Angeles City interchange is expected to benefit more people due to its accessibility to vital routes. It will also cover the huge traffic volume coming from and going to Clark.

Earlier, a call was aired to "end all debates" about where to locate the interchange because it is only upsetting the SCTEx timetable.

"Everyday of delay is a wasted opportunity to get the wheels of development in the region going," said CPI Organizational Studies and Advocacy (COSA) chief advocacy director, lawyer Rafael dela Torre.