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Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, a Philippine pride
April 16th, 2008
Atty Ed Yunon of Sydney yesterday emailed us with photos of the recently opened Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.
In his covering letter, Atty Yunon wrote: “Every year I get the luck of going to the Philippines, and whenever I get there I always make it a point to find something beautiful and it has never been difficult to realize my objective. True I see and experience many things less admirable and less beautiful but those that I find impressive make up for those misgivings.”
“Today without being actually in the Philippines to experience my usual high, lo and behold before my very eyes the latest highway, the SUBIC CLARK TARLAC EXPRESSWAY. Feast your eyes, my friend, as I did myself.
“No, you are not looking at sections of M7 going to Liverpool or of M5 going to Canberra or of F3 going to Queensland. It is definitely Southwest Subic, Olongapo, Zambales, passing thru Clark Pampanga, terminating in Amucao,Tarlac City, Tarlac.”
“I am always proud of the Philippines but these pictures make me prouder today,” concluded Atty Yunon.
So are we, Atty Yunon. We have posted the photos at emanila’s Photogallery for everyone to view.
Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway
The Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) is a 94-kilometer highway north of Manila. The expressway starts in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales passing through the interchange with the North Luzon Expressway near the Clark Special Economic Zone in Angeles City, Pampanga and ends at the Central Techno Park in Tarlac City, Tarlac.
When the expressway is finished, it will provide shorter travel time leading to faster transportation of goods between the two economic zones.
Based on reports, SCTEX will have similar features with the recently rehabilitated North Luzon Expressway. Phase 1 of the SCTEx construction started on April 21, 2005, and completed on December 2007. Phase 2 was scheduled to be done by March 2008.
Last March, President Gloria Arroyo-Macapagal opened the expressway’s first 50 kilometers.
Philippine Government sources have reported that SCTEX was built at a cost of P27 billion, of which P23.06 billion was funded through a loan grant from the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) and the rest shouldered by the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA). #
April 17th, 2008 at 11:44 am
All is not roses. I live in the Clark area and regularly have to commute to Subic for my import/export operations. I looked forward to this highway reducing my time considerably. We can look at this highway with pride and shame. Why?
1. There is no entry/exit in Clark. To get on one must either drive 8 km up MacArthur Hwy to Mabalacat (the busiest road in the Philippines) which can take between 10 an 40 minutes or get on the NLEx and connect via a spur road to the SCTEx. This involves driving south for 5 minutes, making a U turn, then driving north for at least 7 minutes to enter. Plus paying an extra P26.
There are plans for 2 entry points at Clark. One is near the airport and the other at the West end near Frindship Highway. No dates have been set for start or finish.
2. Ther is no entry point other than near Clark or Subic. The only exit point is in Diniluphian which is 35 km from Clark but they did not make provisions to return to the highway. There are plans for one at Porac and Florida Blanca, but there is no funding and not date set for either.
3. There is no service anyplace on the expressway. If you have a breakdown, you will have to wait for a tow truck to tow you to the nearest exit point. this could be as far as 35km. Nobody has published the charges for this.
The project was scheduled for completition in November of last year. It is rife with corruption. The word is that Richard Gordon’s replacement at SBMA knew the planned route and bought a lot of rice field and held out selling the right of way. He made millions (not pesos).
Many think this is a political slap in the face to our President. This project was to be her crowing acheivement. Of course, many will say that it is truly a boon to our economy, but the simple fact that it was built to move goods between our two premier freeport zones and it is impossible to do that speaks volumes.
Still, it is one of the most senic highways I’ve ever seen. Foothills, rivers, forrests, long and beautiful bridges abound. If we could only get it right the first time….
April 17th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Thanks for the feedback, Denice. We certainly hope your concerns are addressed now than later. It would really be a shame that projects like this would ~ at the end ~ become more of a liability than a Philippine pride. Wishing you well in your business. / The Filipino Australian Team