BCA PROJECT SUBIC-CLARK-TARLAC EXPRESSWAY

The Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), BCDA's biggest and most ambitious project to date, is a major infrastructure which is envisioned to serve as a backbone of development in the Central Luzon region. Known as the country's longest expressway, it is envisioned to transform the area into a super region that would attract investors worldwide through the integration of all economic activities in the Subic Freeport and Special Economic Zone and the Clark Special Economic Zone, and the Central Techno Park in Tarlac.

Project Description:
The 93.77 kilometer, four-lane divided highway is divided into two major sections. The first section, the Subic-Clark section is 50.5 kilometers long; the Clark-Tarlac section measures 43.27 kilometers long. Undertaking the construction for Package 1 and Package 2 are the Kajima-Obayashi-JFE Engineering-Mitsubishi (KOJM) Joint Venture and the Hazama-Taisei-Nippon Steel (HTN) Joint Venture, respectively.

The project involves the detailed design, right-of-way acquisition, construction as well as the operation and maintenance of 93.7 kilometers (inclusive of spur roads) of asphalt concrete pavement (ACP) expressway on mostly lahar embankments. SCTEx is divided into 2 sections, namely the Subic-Clark section (Package 1) and the Clark-Tarlac section (Package 2).

It entails the the construction of four major bridges; eight interchanges; 29 minor bridges; 44 underpasses; 303 drainage culverts; toll operation center, toll plazas. Additional three interchaThree interchanges and Additional 3 interchanges and 1 access road will soon be built to enhance the functionality of the SCT Expressway.

Operation and Maintenance:
An Interim Service Provider (ISP) was tapped to handle Operations and Maintenance for at least six months. On December 20, 2007 the contract for the ISP was signed between the BCDA and the consortium of First Philippine Holdings Corporation, Egis Road Operation, and Tollways Management Corporation. The conglomerate will be the ISP of SCTEx.

The terms of the contract for operation and maintenance will be for a period of six months, renewable for a maximum of another six months. The services include functional requirements for the efficient operation of the toll road, such as toll road collection, traffic safety and security management, toll road maintenance, including greenery and landscaping, management services, and all necessary support services.

Funding:
The total cost of the project is Php27.405 billion.
85% loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) amounting to ¥41.93 billion or Php23.06 billion-with an interest rate of 0.95% per annum;
15% BCDA counterpart or Php4 billion

Beneficiaries:
The project itself would be generating 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 professions. Once completed, the highway will directly benefit the population of the municipalities and provinces it will traverse as well as the whole of Region 3 and the general motoring public.