Drilon: NLEX-SCTEX integration deal to be signed Thursday

The P600-million deal to integrate the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) will be signed on Thursday.

 

In emailed an advisory Wednesday, Senate President Franklin Drilon said the deal will be signed at 4:00 p.m. on Feb. 5 at the Senate in Pasay City.

 

Nena Radoc, Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) financial services group vice president, confirmed the deal will be signed Thursday.

 

"Yes. The integration agreement is set to be signed tomorrow to be witnessed by no less than Senate President Franklin Drilon," she told GMA News Online.

 

Manila North Tollways Corp. president Rodrigo Franco also confirmed that the signing is scheduled Thursday.

 

Drilon earlier set a Feb. 12 deadline for signing the agreement. 

 

"The integration of the two thoroughfare systems is seen to result to a more seamless travel for Filipinos traversing Northern and Central Luzon," Drilon said.

 

Earlier, the Senate President complained that his trip to Baguio during the height of the holiday exodus in December took 11 hours.

 

Once signed, the toll integration agreement will be submitted to the Toll Regulatory Board for approval.

 

NLEX is an 86.70-kilometer expressway from Balintawak in Quezon City to Dau in Pampanga while SCTEX is a 93.8-kilometer expressway that traverses Bataan, Pampanga, and Tarlac.

 

The SCTEX and Tarlac Pangasinan La Union Expressway (TPLEX) operations are already partially integrated, with motorists no longer needing to queue separately in La Paz to pay and get new toll cards for each tollway.

 

There are also discussions between SCTEX and TPLEX to make driving through the two expressways more seamless.

 

“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," BCDA president and CEO Arnel Paciano Casanova said. – VS, GMA News