The NORTH LUZON EXPRESSWAY and SOUTH LUZON EXPRESSWAY

jhaelsin · 7th October 2006, 08:58

PNCC to extend NLEX to Rosario in La Union

HOUSE Deputy Speaker Eric Singson, leader of the Northern (Luzon) Alliance, said Tuesday the Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC), in the presence of President Arroyo, has committed to immediately start work on the extension of the North Luzon Expressway (Nlex) up to Rosario, La Union, and to be finished within the next 10 years.

Singson also said the PNCC is also committed to consider a reduction in toll fees to heighten the competitiveness of farmers bringing their produce to markets in Metro Manila and other urban centers.

“We are deeply gratified by the President’s support and Congress’ responsiveness to the problems of our farmers in transporting their agricultural produce to markets in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces in the wake of increasing toll fees,” Singson said as he thanked his colleagues, including Rep. Salacnib Baterina and other Luzon lawmakers, for their endorsement of the highway extension.

The House of Representatives last September 20 approved on final reading House Bill 5749 granting extension to the franchise of the PNCC by another 25 years.

Singson said the toll fees being charged by the private operator of expressways have increased almost 1,000 percent from their original charges.

Singson, however, presented a motion to reconsider the 3rd reading approval by the House in view of their concerns affecting their constituents in Central and Northern Luzon.

The House leadership obliged to pave the way for a meeting in Malacañang with President Arroyo and officials of the PNCC to thresh out their concerns.

“We, lawmakers from Northern and Central Luzon, went to see the President in the presence of PNCC officials. The authors, led by Chairman Zubiri, agreed to include a provision that the PNCC commits, under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) law, to extend the North Expressway all the way to Rosario, La Union, within the next 10 years,” Singson said.

The Philippine BOT law, a brainchild of Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. and considered a model BOT law in the world, effectively attracted billions of dollars in foreign investments and allowed the surge of infrastructure projects in the country without using public funds.

The principal authors of the bill are led by House Committee on Legislative Franchises chairman Juan Miguel Zubiri, Majority Leader Prospero Nograles and Reps. Justin Chipeco and Benjamin Agarao Jr.
Following the positive commitment from the PNCC in the presence of the President, Singson subsequently withdrew his motion to reconsider the final reading passage of the extension bill.

by Business Mirror

jhaelsin · 7th October 2006, 09:07

Malacañang approves extension of NLEX, SLEX
By Jess Diaz
The Philippine Star 10/07/2006

President Arroyo has approved the extension of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) from Mabalacat, Pampanga to Rosario, La Union and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) from Calamba, Laguna to Lucena City in Quezon.

Ilocos Sur Rep. Eric Singson said yesterday the President gave the approval during a meeting last week with members of the Northern Luzon Alliance, which groups congressmen from the North.

He said the meeting was also attended by Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri, chairman of the House committee on legislative franchises, and officials of the state-owned Philippine National Construction Co. (PNCC), which owns the two expressways.

He said the President asked PNCC to start work on the extensions as soon as possible and to finish them within 10 years.

"The extension projects will drastically cut travel time and the cost of transporting goods from the northern and southern portions of the country to Metro Manila," he said.

Singson is the president of the Northern Luzon Alliance and a House deputy speaker.

He said they sought the meeting with Mrs. Arroyo to push for the lengthening of the two expressways, particularly the NLEX extension.

He said they also called for a reduction in toll rates to reduce the cost of travel and of transporting goods.

"Reducing the toll rates will greatly benefit our farmers," he said.

Zubiri was invited to the meeting of the Ilocos lawmakers with the President because his committee had endorsed the extension of the PNCC franchise by 25 years despite opposition from some congressmen who want the private sector to take over the state agency’s job.

Those opposed to the extension pointed out that NLEX and the SLEX are now operated by private corporations that have been given contracts to rehabilitate and run them on a build-operate-transfer arrangement.

As a result, NLEX is now more efficiently maintained and operated, they said.

The contractor, a Lopez-controlled company, made a net profit of about P3 billion out of gross earnings of more than P5 billion on its first full year of operation. The Lopezes are now planning to sell the company.

The lawmakers, who tried but failed to block PNCC’s franchise extension, said the PNCC is mired in debt and should be closed down and not given an extended authority to incur more debts.

Singson’s group had threatened to block the extension of the PNCC franchise if there was no commitment to extend NLEX to La Union and to reduce toll rates.

Singson said the failure by the PNCC to build the extensions within the 10-year period would mean cancellation of its franchise.

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200610079904.htm

Lew · 7th October 2006, 09:14

we need pictures...

jhaelsin · 7th October 2006, 09:15

^ Just wait okay, we aren't robots to do things at once

Lew · 7th October 2006, 09:17

cool...lol

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode