SCTEx gears up for opening of classes

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—“We want our students to have a hassle-free start of the new school year.”

With this noble objective in mind, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), through its interim service provider for the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), has taken measures to ensure that the students “start the school year on the right foot.”

Smarting from past experiences, SCTEX’s interim service provider—a consortium of First Philippine Holdings Corporation, Egis Road Operation and Tollways Management Corporation geared up for next week’s re-opening of classes.

BCDA program manager for support services and concurrent SCTEX spokesman Robert Gervacio said they are ready to overcome the challenges brought by the surge in traffic volume as students troop back to their schools in Metro Manila with preemptive steps meant to facilitate passage along the 93.7-kilometer tollway that connects four provinces in Central Luzon namely: Pampanga, Tarlac, Bataan and Zambales as well as the three major economic zones of Central Luzon – the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, the Clark Freeport Zone and the Central Techno Park in Tarlac.

“We want the SCTEX users to enjoy safe and seamless travel even with the expected upsurge of traffic volume during the weekend prior to the June 15 opening of classes, and the rains predicted by the weather bureau,” Gervacio said.

TMC executive Charlie Espanola said the anticipatory moves they have initiated involved massive cleaning and enhancement of the SCTEX drainage systems to ensure a flood-free tollway.

“Water pools on the road can cause hydroplaning among passing cars which in turn can lead to accidents,” Espanola stressed.

He also revealed that they have drawn up contingency plans that involve, among others, the use of makeshift toll booths to help ease vehicle backlogs at the interchanges notably the Mabalacat and Tipo toll plazas.

The plan also calls for the conversion of a number of entry lanes into exit lanes and deployment of mobile toll collectors during peak hours to help speed up vehicle flow at the toll plazas.

More important, Gervacio stressed, is the cooperation of the motorists themselves by preparing exact toll amounts to dramatically reduce transaction time at the toll booths.

In the safety department, the SCTEX administrators strongly advise motorists to strictly observe driving and traffic rules especially speed limits posted on the roadsides for the drivers’ guidance.

To assist travellers, security teams are strategically deployed along the tollway to make sure that help is just 20 minute away at any point along the SCTEX. In addition, motorists needing roadside assistance can call the following SCTEX hotlines (0920) 96-SCTEX (72839), (045) 865-2030, (02) 362-9997 and (02) 362-2246.