The state-owned Bases Conversion and Development  Authority (BCDA), owner and builder of  the  country’s longest and most modern expressway—the  Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), said six  tollway operators have expressed keen interest to manage, operate and maintain the SCTEX.

BCDA vice president for finance and chairperson of the asset disposition program committee, Victor Zablan said the tollway operators who purchased  the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Selection of the BCDA’s Private Partner for the Privatization of the SCTEX were: Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corporation, STAR Tollways Corporation, Atty Alvin B. Bugtas representing the Citra Group, San Miguel Corporation, Amicus Holdings Inc., and IL&FS Transportation Networks Ltd.

He added that all six firms attended the pre-bid conference held last November 10, 2009 at the BCDA Corporate Center in Bonifacio Global City.

Mr. Zablan said the lease/concession agreement for the privatization of the SCTEX will be for a period of thirty three and a half years or from 28 April 2010 to 30 October 2043.

Based on the TOR,  the winning private sector partner will bear the operational funding requirements for the management, operations and maintenance of the SCTEX including periodic maintenance works, special/major/emergency works and all other additional works, and insurance.

Also, the private sector partner will provide management services, toll collection, traffic safety and security management, toll road maintenance including greenery and landscaping, and other related services.

Mr. Zablan said, BCDA will receive a semi-annual lease/concession fee from the winning bidder, amounting to either: the peso equivalent of yen-dominated JBIC/JICA loan debt servicing as well as all financing charges payable to BCDA 10 days prior to its due dates secured by a rolling five-year letter of credit; or twenty percent of audited gross revenues whichever is higher.

He said the deadline for the submission of proposals and eligibility documents has been set on 4 December 2009; opening of financial bids on 11 December 2009; and the issuances of the Notice of Award and Notice to Proceed to  the winning private sector partner will be on 22 December 2009 and 27 January 2010 respectively.

The SCTEX is a 94-km  four-lane divided toll road expressway traversing three provinces in Central Luzon, namely: Bataan, Pampanga and Tarlac. It provides a direct link among Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Clark Freeport Zone and Tarlac City.

The expressway allows Clark and Subic to forge a growing partnership by building on each other’s core strengths. More importantly, it has pave the way for the synergy of the two economic zones into one big facility resulting in the convergence of land-,air, and sea-based transport.

Travel time from Clark to Subic has been reduced to a mere 40 minutes. From Clark to Tarlac,  travel time  is now only 25 minutes.