Wednesday, December 06, 2006 Bases agency okays P230M for Subic-Clark access road: official By Dante M. Fabian
CLARK ECOZONE -- Clark Development Corporation (CDC) president Levy Laus announced that the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has allotted P230 million for the funding of an access road to the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) to Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx).
Laus said the BCDA made immediate allocation of funds for the Clark access project, including the additional budget, before the onset of the election ban on government projects. He said the bases agency will complete the project before December 2007.
The construction of the access road for Clark to the 93.77-kilomenter long expressway project is part of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's vision to connect the seaport of Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ) and the airport of CSEZ.
The connection will be made complete with the construction of an interchange inside the economic zone here.
Laus said ensuring the construction of an access road to Clark was one of his top priorities after assuming the top post in CDC last month. "We are thankful that the BCDA immediately acted on our request, although the agency will have to infuse additional budget for the access road which may run up to millions," he said.
He also informed members of the Metro Clark Advisory Council (Mcac) that the BCDA has allotted the funds for the said interchange that will connect Clark to SCTEx.
The transit access (entry-exit) here will be constructed at the logistics center at the Industrial Estate 5 near Clark's main gate.
In the original design, motorists will have to travel an additional 12 kilometers from the Clark main gate to the next transit access in Dolores, Mabalacat or at North Luzon Expressway (Nlex) before SCTEx can be accessed.
Also, motorists opting to exit from SCTEx will also have to negotiate 12 kilometers in order to enter Clark.
Laus said the idea of the expressway was to make Clark-Subic-Tarlac accessible, "but without the transit access, we are defeating the purpose of the infrastructure."
Laus, a BCDA director for three years, said the access road for Clark must be constructed to boost the economic and business potentials of Clark and neighboring areas of the economic zone.
He said the interchange in Clark will also help improve the traffic situation in Angeles City and Mabalacat town once it is completed.
"If there would be no traffic outside at the main entrance of Clark, there would be influx of investors and tourists coming in," he said.
