Subic-Clark-Tarlac expressway to open in 2005, says BCDA

The Bases conversion Development Authority (BCDA) is projecting that the planned P18.7 billion Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway will be completed and opened by 2005, barring any delays in the acquisition of right-of-way.

In a recent presentation to the members of the executive committee of the Multipartite Monitoring team of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway Program (SCTEP), it was explained that the project will involve the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

The expressway project will affect the provinces of Bataan, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales. It will be designed and constructed in two packages.

Package I is the Subic-Clark section which is approximately 55.8 kilometers. Package II is the Clark-Tarlac section which is approximately 33.5 kilometers.

The project will also include the construction of tollway structures such as interchanges, overpasses and farm crossings.

There will be eight interchanges, four of which will be within the Subic-Clark section and the other four will be within the Clark-Tarlac section.

The proposed road alignment will cut across rivers and lahars watersheds, thus, waterway structures will be constructed such as the 2.5 kilometer Pasig-Potrero River Crossing, and the Sacobia-Bamban River Crossing.

A total of 35 bridges and minor drainage structures will be constructed, 28 of them within the Subic-Clark section and seven within the Clark-Tarlac section.

For package I, a total of 348 hectares of land is required and about 500 families are affected.

To date, the total number of lots acquired from private landowners (from the town of Hermosa and Dinalupihan) is 21, covering of total land area of 74,385 square meters.

Negotiations with landowners for the acquisiton of 163 lots in Hermosa and Dinalupihan are ongoing. Likewise, segregation of ROW in government lands 9 about 100 hectares within Roosevelt National Park) is also being finalized.

For package II, a total of 188 hectares of land is required and about 300 families are affected.

To date, negotiations with landowners for the acquistion of 21 lots in Bamban and Concepcion are ongoing. Negotiation with Luisita Development Corp., owner of 64 lots covering a land area of 641,268 square meters, is already completed.

The Philippine Government, through the BCDA, is implementing the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway project through a special loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation of Japan (JBIC). The 90-kilometer project is designed to provide the shortest, direct and efficient link among areas in Central Luzon, specifically the Subic Bay Special Economic and Freeport Zone in Zambales, the Clark Special Economic and Freeport Zone in Zambales, the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga and the Luisita Industrial Park in Tarlac.