SCTEx seen to open in March

The P21-billion Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) will start commercial operation in March as the contractors rush to complete both of the project’s two sections, the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) said.

Construction of the 43.27-kilometer Clark-Tarlac section is expected to be finished within the year but the BCDA prefers to open both the Clark-Tarlac section and the 50-kilometer Clark-Subic section of the SCTEx at the same time, BCDA president and chief executive Narciso L. Abaya said.

Each of the two sections is expected to cut travel time from at least two hours to about half an hour.

“Issues that have contributed to delays in finishing SCTEx have been resolved, including those about interchanges,” Abaya said.

The BCDA announced early last month announced that it had awarded the interim contract to operate and maintain the SCTEx to a group that included First Philippine Holdings Corp.

Under the contract, First Philippine Holdings and its joint venture partners Egis Road Operation and Tollways Management Corp. will operate the SCTEx for six months up to a year starting from the expressway’s opening in early 2008.

The BCDA said it was resorting to an interim operator after the bidding for a long-term contract failed twice.

Abaya said a third bidding would was planned not later than 2009.

He said the BCDA would engage a service provider for 10 years, unless there were changes or the contract would be ended for some reason. By Ronnel Domingo - Inquirer