Subic-Clark Expressway opens

GMA, Senator Gordon and governors lead soft opening of SCTEx Motorists may use BCDA-owned highway free for 1 week

SCTEX, Pampanga — President Arroyo and a convoy of officials travelled from Clark to Subic yesterday through the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) as part of the soft opening of the newly constructed Subic- Clark segment of the 94-kilometer highway.

Among those who joined the President were Sen. Richard Gordon, Governors Victor Yap of Tarlac, Eduardo Panlilio of Pampanga, Enrique Garcia of Bataan, Pampanga Reps. Aurelio Gonzales and Carmelo Lazatin, and Japanese Ambassador Makoto Katsura.

Also at the soft-opening ceremonies were other government, business and private group leaders in Central Luzon, including officials of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

Subic Clark Alliance for Development Council (SCADC) Chairman Edgardo Pamintuan said the opening of the P29-billion Subic-Clark segment of the expressway will greatly benefit Region 3, including Pampanga, the President’s home province.

"This is the answer of the President to her detractors, that we focus on our objectives and commitment to the people. We are realizing all these to sustain growth as envisioned by PGMA," said Pamintuan.

Mabalacat Mayor Marino Morales said the SCTEx will help Central Luzon in achieving greater progress.

He said he was glad to see Mrs. Arroyo at the opening ceremonies "truly happy after another test of her political stability."

"Performance is the secret to the success of the Arroyo government," said Morales.

Congressman Lazatin said that SCTEx "is the key to economic growth in Luzon as provided by the good President."

He added that Arroyo has been putting "everything in place to realize a more progressive area in Luzon."

After a short program at the spur road portion of the SCTEx in Barangay Mabiga here, Arroyo rode a topdown vehicle and led a convoy to Subic. She flew later to Pangasinan to visit other projects.

Local traders said the "SCTEx will bring tremendous growth and progress to the people, especially the businessmen." They, however, urged Mrs. Arroyo "to ensure the quality of the multi-billion peso project."

In a statement, the BCDA said it would open the Subic-Clark segment for free to light vehicles starting 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. yesterday after the soft opening program.

The segment will also be opened for free to light vehicles from March 19 to 24 from 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

According to BCDA President and CEO Narciso Abaya, the opening of the 50.5-km Subic-Clark segment will be a relief for motorists bound for Bataan and Olongapo, especially Subic which is a major tourist destination during the Lenten season.

The free Holy Week dry run is dubbed "Handog ni Pangulong Gloria: Libreng Biyahe sa SCTEx."

Abaya said that for the dry run, only Class 1 (Light) vehicles, chartered buses and motorcycles with an engine displacement of 400 cc or higher will be allowed to enter the expressway during the free Holy Week trial run.

He added that motorists coming from NLEX bound for Subic are advised to take the Spur/NLE interchange located between the Dau and Sta. Ines (Mabalacat) Exits of the NLEX and proceed to the SCTEx Clark Logistics Toll Plaza. After crossing the bridge, follow the loop of the ramp towards Subic. Motorists are advised to follow the appropriate road directional signage.

BCDA also has advised motorists at SCTEx bound for Bataan to exit at the Dinalupihan Interchange via the Roman highway.

Meanwhile, motorists from Subic and Bataan bound for Manila are advised to enter the SCTEx through the Tipo Toll Plaza or the Dinalupihan Toll Plaza and follow the road signage towards the Clark Logistics Toll Plaza.

BCDA added that upon reaching the Clark Logistics interchange, take the first ramp to the right that will lead to the toll plaza, then the Spur/NLE interchange connecting to the NLEX.

Travel time from Clark to Subic will be reduced to a mere 40 minutes. From NLEX in Balintawak to Subic, travel time will only be one hour and 30 minutes. Fred M. Roxas - Manila Bulletin



GMA leads SCTEx drive-through; use of toll road free until March 24

Jonas Reyes - Manila Bulletin

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT -- "Biyahe na."

This was the exhortation made by President Arroyo when she led yesterday the launching of the "Handog ni Pangulong Gloria: Libreng Biyahe sa SCTEx," which offers motorists a chance to use the toll road for free.

The occasion was the "soft opening" of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx).

The President led the inaugural drivethrough on a portion of the SCTEx, signaling the "soft opening" of the 94-kilometer highway that provides better, faster access to the Subic Bay Freeport in Zambales and the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga.

Arroyo said that with the completion of SCTEx, more jobs can now be generated for residents in these areas as more industries and facilities are expected to set up businesses such as transportation, communications, banking and food services as well as labor-intensive and service-oriented industries.

She said that to the business locators, the SCTEx enhances growth in commerce and industry in the region, creates more opportunities for the importexport industries and attracts more players in medical tourism and call-center business.

"The dry run, which involves only the Subic and Clark portion of the toll road, lasts until March 24 and is expected to bring in many local tourists planning to spend their holy week either in Subic or in Clark," said Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Armand Arreza.

Arreza said that yesterday’s dry run from the Tipo gate of Subic Bay to Clark extends from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., but added that the following day (today) would allow motorists to enjoy free use of the toll road from 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

He said that the lack of street lights prevents SCTEx from operating at night.

The opening, Arreza said, is part of a program to ease traffic this holy week, noting that the toll road cuts travel time between the Subic and Clark freeports from one-and-half hour to just 30 minutes.

The SCTEx, which is a flagship project of President Arroyo, covers a total distance of 93.77 kilometers and has at least 34 bridges, the longest of which spans over the 1.16-kilometer width of the Sacobia River in Bamban, Tarlac.

The expressway has eight interchanges. These are the Tipo Junction, Dinalupihan Interchange, Clark Logistics Interchange, Spur-North Luzon Expressway Interchange, Clark North Interchange, Concepcion Interchange, and San Miguel Interchange.

The project, which cost R60.54 billion, was divided into two packages -- the 50.5-kilometer Subic-Clark package, and the 43.27-kilometer Clark-Tarlac span.

In connection with the expressway inauguration set next month, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said it will host a three-day program in Clark Freeport on April 18 to 20.

Doy Roque, event organizer of BCDA, said the event dubbed as "94K Weekend" will be held to prepare for the inauguration of "one of the country’s most important infrastructure projects."

Video of the Opening Ceremony and SCTEx to Olongapo City

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je36wZ4nXN0