BCDA to spend P1 billion for SCTEX upgrade

MANILA, Philippines — State-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is planning to spend around P1 billion for improvements at the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).

“For SCTEX, my goal is to complete all the interchanges that were not done before because we didn’t have money. Now, because we have extra revenues, on top of our payment to our JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) loan, it’s time to give back, reinvest in the facility,” BCDA president and CEO Joshua Bingcang said in a press briefing.

He said the investment would be used to put up three interchanges, as well as road lights.

“We’ll be completing three more interchanges in Luisita, Hermosa and Mabalacat,” he said.

He also said additional road lights are needed, especially as the route to Subic is dark at night.

Furthermore, the BCDA is looking at offering the development of two service facilities along the SCTEX to the private sector.

“We will be coming up with more service facilities in SCTEX, especially if you’re going to Subic because there are no service facilities there,” Bingcang said.

Last July, the BCDA said it is planning to expand the road interchange connecting Luisita Access Road in Tarlac City to SCTEX to help ease congestion.

The plan to expand the interchange will be undertaken with the local government of Tarlac and NLEX Corp., a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC).

While the BCDA earlier received an offer from MPTC to acquire the government’s stake in SCTEX for P20 billion, Bingcang said it was not considered acceptable.

Last year, he said that for the BCDA to consider MPTC’s proposal, it should cover the remaining balance of the government’s debt to JICA which was used to build SCTEX.

He said the BCDA has not received an updated offer from MPTC.

“If they have a good offer, we’ll look at it,” he said.

The 94-kilometer SCTEX is operated and managed by NLEX Corp.