BCDA speeds up NLEx-SCTEx integration

THE BASES Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) wants  to fast-track the P600-million integration of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) before the end of the year.

The state-run firm is now coordinating with the Manila North Tollways Corp. to speed up the signing of the agreement ahead of the Feb. 12 deadline set by Senate President Franklin Drilon, BCDA president and chief executive officer Arnel Paciano Casanova said in a statement.

“The integration of the toll ways had always been part of the plan. We are grateful for Senate President Drilon’s interest because it is now gaining momentum. We are working at signing the agreement in the first week of February,” Casanova added.

Drilon reportedly met with the BCDA and operators of the expressways in North Luzon to discuss the integration after his trip to Baguio during the holidays took 11 hours.

“It is to the best interest of the project proponents and motorists to have a more efficient infrastructure. We are just waiting for the go-signal of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel before we can sign off on the agreement,” Casanova said. “We just need to thresh out details of the settlement of payments and other documentation.”

Once signed, the integration of NLEx and SCTEx will be submitted to the Toll Regulatory Board for approval.

Also, there are ongoing discussions between SCTEx and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) to make driving through the two expressways more seamless.

The operations of SCTEx and TPLEx have been partially integrated as motorists no longer need to queue separately to pay and get new toll cards in the two expressways.

“For the long term, there will be discussions for a unified radio frequency ID (RFID) and other technologies to make it even more efficient for operators and motorists,” Casanova explained. –Amy R. Remo