Ausphil Tollways vows to build P7.8-B stage 1 of Northeast Luzon road project

Ausphil Tollways Corp. has committed to build the P7.8-billion Stage 1 of the Northeast Luzon Expressway (NELE) as the first "green corridor" in Asia compliant with the 1971 Ramsar (Iran) Treaty on the conservation of wetlands.

Ausphil has been waiting for the approval of the project since October 2004 when the government agencies sponsoring the project endorsed it to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

The endorsing agencies are the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as sponsor and the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System as co-sponsor.

According to Ausphil president Ricardo Penson, a commitment on conforming with the Ramsar Treaty is contained in the technical component of the documents submitted to NEDA.

The commitment would include starting construction within 90 days from NEDA approval, he said.

In about 18 months, the 27-kilometer world-class tollway will link Commonwealth Avenue in Fairview, Quezon City to San Jose Del Monte City and Norzagaray municipality, and eventually linking the road alignment to Stage 2 in Baliwag.

"This green corridor becomes a catalyst for socio-economic benefits such as sustainable livelihood projects that generate more employment and savings in travel time and fuel now being wasted on traffic congestion," Penson said.

"As a green corridor, the scenic road will develop and enhance eco-tourism potentials," Penson added.

Penson assured that Ausphil would pioneer the "water sensitive urban tollway methodology" in the Philippines in the construction of the tollway and maintenance of its immediate environment.

Applied by Australian partners in its tollway projects in Queensland, the process will enable the project to be compliant with the Convention on Wetlands signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, Penson said.

The treaty, which the Philippines ratified in 1978, is an intergovernmental treaty providing the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

Stage 1 will use seven kilometers of the Balara-La Mesa and the 14-kilometer La-Mesa- Bicti (Norzagaray) right of way of the MWSS.

Stage 1 is also known as the La Mesa Parkways. Stage 2 stretches seven kilometers from Balara-La Mesa Reserve in Quezon City and 13.8 kilometers to the Baliwag by-pass from Norzagaray.

Penson said that the world-class Stage l infrastructure includes the rehabilitation and development of the La Mesa Nature Park and Montalban watershed for eco-tourism.

Under the "water sensitive urban toll road methodology", rainwater will be collected in patented structures within the tollway.

Filtration of the collected rainwater utilizing wetland plant enzymes removes pollutants from the swale filtered water.

The system will make the tollway the first infrastructure project in Asia self-sufficient in water and power requirements. It will provide an estimated 15 million cubic meters of raw water for distribution to local water districts and the La Mesa Dam.

Turbine generators installed in underground aqueducts will generate 35 megawatts for self-sufficiency and for sale of excess power to the Luzon power grid.

Penson said that the Australian partners in Ausphil have gained awards and certifications for engineering safety, quality and environment in Australia.

The Queensland Motorways Ltd. built and maintained the Gateway Bridge and Logan Motorways in Queensland have a traffic load of about 120,000 vehicles a day, higher than the estimated base year 70,000 vehicles a day for Stage 1 of NELE.

Penson said that re-elected stockholders of Ausphil include Thomas Aquino, Philip E Juico (chairman), Penson (president and CEO), Edgardo Roces (treasurer), Mervyn Cotterell, Miguel Varela and former Queensland Motorways Ltd. general manager Terry Brown (replacing Ray Teese of Staff Queensland.)

Engineering Development Corp. of the Philippines will provide the engineering services assisted by Baseline Consulting Pty. Ltd. of Brisbane, Australia.

The financial advisor is David McDougall of KPMG. Eladio Pasamba is internal auditor.

Ausphil and MWSS have signed a contract lease for use of 21 kilometers rights of way for a fixed rate during construction plus revenue sharing for the first 30 years of commercial operation of the tollway.

Ausphil is negotiating with the Toll Regulatory Board for a toll operations agreement upon NEDA approval.