BCDA: Government saved at least P.5 B in Subic-Clark tollway

MABALACAT, Pampanga – Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) chairman Narciso Abaya told President Arroyo yesterday that the government actually saved P500 million to P700 million in the construction of the 93.7-kilometer Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), debunking reports of yet another anomaly in the major government project.

“Wow,” the President remarked in reaction to Abaya’s report during the temporary opening of the project’s 50-kilometer Clark-Subic segment to motorists.

The President, who cut the ceremonial ribbon, announced that the entire project, which extends from Tipo in Subic, Zambales to the Clark Freeport and finally to La Paz, Tarlac will be operational by the end of April.

In its temporary opening up to Easter Sunday, only type 1 vehicles, chartered buses and motorcycles with a minimum displacement of 400 cc will be allowed entry into the SCTEx.

According to the BCDA, the SCTEx is expected to dramatically cut travel time between Clark and Subic to only 40 minutes, and between Clark and Tarlac to 30 minutes.

At 93.7 kilometers, the SCTEX will be the country’s longest tollway. The plan is to impose a toll rate of P2.20 per kilometer.

Abaya lamented reports that the cost of the project has reached some P25 billion. He clarified that “P25 billion is the total loan package,” but the project will be finished for only about P20.5 billion, with a probable savings of about P500 million to P700 million.

“Everything is aboveboard. We even have savings,” Abaya told The STAR.

While the consultants who prepared the feasibility study gave out an initial cost estimate of only about P18 billion for the entire project, Abaya said feasibility studies, which are based merely on ground surveys, are far from actual ground conditions.

“When you put in details into the engineering design, you find out that estimates in feasibility studies are far from actual ground conditions. For example, in a feasibility study, the length of the Pasig-Potrero Bridge was 300 meters, but the actual length is 700 meters,” he said.

Abaya cited another instance where a quicksand was discovered in a spot where an abutment was to be constructed. “So some (engineering and cost) adjustments were made,” he said.

Investors at Clark, however, lamented that the SCTEx did not have direct access to the Freeport.

Yesterday’s ceremonies were held on a section of the tollway in Barangay Mabiga here, the nearest access point from Clark via the traffic-clogged MacArthur Highway.

Abaya, however, said an interchange for the SCTEx is one of the three interchanges that will be built upon orders of the President. The two other interchanges will be built in Porac and Floridablanca towns.

Abaya said the BCDA is still negotiating for a supplementary funding of about P1 billion for these interchanges from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

“We expect this to be released soon,“ he said.

Ronaldo Tiotuico, Central Luzon director of the Department of Tourism, said the SCTEx would provide easy and comfortable access to various beach resorts and tourist destinations in the region. – With Ric Sapnu