NLEX-SCTEX integration: A timely boost to Central Luzon economy

MANILA, Philippines -  The recent integration of two tollways – the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) – is viewed by leaders and analysts as a most timely development to further boost the high performing economy of Central Luzon.

Central Luzon Regional Development Council chairman and Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan attributed the region’s recent strong economic growth to infrastructure developments that greatly benefited the public, notably the integration of NLEX and SCTEX.

Based on the recent data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Central Luzon remains one of the country’s fastest growing economies after it posted a P1.304 billion in gross regional domestic product (GRDP) in 2016, 9.8 percent higher compared to the region’s P1.187 billion in GRDP in 2015.

The integration project, which became operational in March 2016, was undertaken by the NLEX Corp., the concessionaire of both NLEX and SCTEX. The P758-million project converted the NLEX and SCTEX toll collection systems into a unified system, thus reducing toll collection stops to two from Balintawak to Subic or Tarlac.

It also introduced at SCTEX electronic toll collection through Easytrip, which enabled faster transactions in SCTEX toll plazas.

Franco

“Being the first integration among expressways in the country, the NLEX-SCTEX Integration Project was transformative in many ways. It paved the way for improved mobility of people, goods, and services. It meant savings in time and vehicle operating costs,” he said.

NLEX Corp. president and chief executive officer Rodrigo Franco pointed out the region’s accelerated economy is due to the collective efforts of different sectors such as manufacturing, agricultural, tourism, transportation and the like.

Franco said that NLEX Corp. will steadily facilitate travel convenience and contribute to a more stable regional economy as the company continues to “develop quality transport infrastructures and provide services that boost trade and commerce.”

In terms of tourism visitor arrivals, a similar uptrend was noted by the Department of Tourism-Region 3 as data showed 4.1 million arrivals for 2016. The arrival figures are 20 percent higher than the 3.4 million arrivals in 2015. Region 3 ranked 4th among the top regions with the most number of incoming tourists among the 14 regional destinations in the country in 2015. Subic and Clark top the list of tourist destinations.

Tourism Region 3 director Ronaldo Tiotuico highlighted that mobility improvements have been a game-changer for countryside development. “Industrial centers are booming now in the region particularly in Subic, Bataan, and Tarlac. Easier travel to and from the Central Luzon provinces has been a come-on for businessmen and tourists alike,” Tiotuico said.

For frequent north travellers Victory Liner Treasury and Marketing head Marivic Del Pilar said: “Using the unified NLEX-SCTEX has always been a viable option. NLEX-SCTEX has been a hassle-free and accessible way to provinces in northern and central Luzon, following the decrease in the number of stops due to integration.”