PGMA tours Hanjin Shipyard
February 11, 2010 11:20 pm
MANILA, Jan. 11 — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today visited Hanjin Shipyard at the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), which serves as the northwestern anchor of Urban Luzon Beltway (ULB).
Hanjin has the capability to build large ocean-going vessels. Last year, the Korean firm delivered the first of such ships, a 41,000-ton, US$ 60-million container vessel named M/V Argolikos, to its Greek client Dioryx. The biggest world-class ship so far built in the Philippines, Argolikos is one of six units lined up for delivery to Dioryx.
SBMA is connected to the country’s premier industrial region composed of Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and Southern Luzon through four tollways: the 93.7-kilometer Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), and the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR).
Described as flagship of the President’s Super Regions, ULB has already led to the creation of some 150,000 jobs on the Subic-Clark corridor
Hanjin, which now ranks as the fourth largest shipyard in the world, has generated more than 20,000 direct and indirect jobs. It has also set up a P240-million skills development center, which can accommodate 500 to 1,000 trainees per batch.
At the southern end of ULB lies Batangas Port, which is fast developing into a premier export center. It is expected to relieve congestion in seaports in Manila in the same way that Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) in Clark eases the heavy traffic at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City.
SCTEX links SBMA in Olongapo City to Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles, Pampanga, and to Central Techno Park in Tarlac City. This modern tollway, inaugurated by President Arroyo in July last year, reduces travel time from Subic to Tarlac by at least one hour.
On the other hand, NLEX, which links Central Luzon to Metro Manila, cuts travel time by about two hours from Subic or Tarlac to Metro Manila.
Construction of the arteries linking NLEX and SLEX on one hand and the SLEX and STAR on the other is now being rushed to meet target completion dates in March or April.
When completed, this modern road network will allow speedy and safe transport of people and goods from Tarlac or Subic to Batangas, making ULB finally a reality.
The STAR substantially cut down travel time between Lipa City and Batangas City from one hour to just 10 minutes, while the NLEX-SLEX linkage reduces travel time between southern and northern Metro Manila by about 30 minutes. Travel time between Balintawak and Clark has also been reduced from two hours to one hour.
Efficient travel within ULB has led to the construction of some 303,000 low-cost houses in the region.
The road network also encourages people working in Metro Manila to live in suburban Laguna, where there is less pollution and congestion.
According to the President, the infrastructure program is part of the legacy she is leaving behind when she steps down. Hopefully, she said, the next administration will continue the development thrust. (PNA)
DCT/OPS/ssc
Comments