SCTX Myth

SCTX stands for Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway, a new addition to long high-speed stretch of roads aim at improving trade and commerce in the Philippines. It was primarily built to connect two former US military installations now export processing zones, Subic and Clark. On paper, Subic to Clark section would take 40 minutes and from Clark to Tarlac, only 25 minutes. For the mean time, there are three out seven interchanges that are ready for public use. For a Zambaleño to reach Manila, two interchanges are available, the Dinalupihan-Hermosa Bataan Interchange (1^st interchange from Subic) and the Clark Logistics Interchange (5^th interchange). The Clark Logistics Interchange is the one that connects with NLEX (Northern Luzon Expressway).

Last week, I got the chance to experience the 47 km Subic to Clark Logistics Interchange stretch that would in paper take me to Manila sooner than usual. Like the NLEX, everybody would enjoy the quality of the road especially the dragster community. BMW might place an ad “Another road worthy for a BMW” as they did with NLEX (replace “another” with “a”) when it opened years ago. Some would probably say it’s like driving interstate roads in the US but the way it had punched through hills, reminds me of inter-city roads of South Korea. There are some portions whose surface is noticeably rough, probably just 1% of the whole stretch.

Going to Manila from Zambales according to a friend who’s on the wheel, using the SCTX is a wise choice but he said if one would decide to use the Clark Logistics exit, it is more costly! Since it’s going to be my first time on the expressway, I get to decide which route to take (har har har!). After five minutes of driving, doing 80 to 90 kilometers per hour, I can’t sense vibration brought by the road the same thing I noticed when I first tried NLEX. It’s a lot better than traveling through the usual route using the Dinalupihan-Bataan and Sta. Cruz-Pampanga route. What amazed me most was the view from both sides of the road. One gets to enjoy the mountain ranges and plains of Central Luzon that are surprisingly green, maybe due to the early rainy season. Years of heavy logging (illegal) had made its mark though… similar to the mountain ranges of Zambales. For the next 10 minutes, it was starting to get a bit boring… Then I remember what a friend said to me regarding long stretches of road, one could use his/her knee to do the steering. But my friend wasn’t that adventurous to even try.

So we plied the long road for 43 minutes with the average speed of 90 kph and exited using the Clark Logistics Interchange costing us about 112 pesos (class 1 vehicle). That’s 2.38 pesos per kilometer. We were off to NLEX and it took us 9 kilometers (I’m a little bit not sure on the 9 km) to reach the Dau Toll Gate then exited in Balintawak. And since we came from Dau, we paid a toll of 180 pesos. Total distance traveled before reaching NLEX is therefore 47 plus 9 km, 56 km. Total toll fees from SCTX and NLEX, 112 plus 180 pesos, 292 pesos.

To compare the toll fees and the distance traveled, we decided to use my friend’s “economical route.” We used the NLEX San Fernando Toll Gate for our return trip then used the Dinalupihan-Bataan Interchange of SCTX. This time we just paid 130 pesos for NLEX and 24 pesos for SCTX which amounted to 154 pesos. The 138-peso difference for us using a diesel powered vehicle translates to extra 3 liters of fuel using the 45 peso to a liter rate for diesel. In terms of distance, this time we only traveled 45 km as opposed to the 56 km using the whole stretch of SCTX. Average speed however was down to 65 to 80 kph and there are usual stop and go’s due to the usual traffic.

After using the two routes, I finally realized my friend’s argument. The SCTX is no doubt the choice of road if a person would be coming from Zambales and Clark or Tarlac is his/her destination. But considering the price of fuel and toll fees nowadays, going to and from Manila using the Dinalupihan Bataan Interchange is the more economical way. That is considering the following assumptions:

 Since I don’t have a digital gauge to measure actual mileage, I just assumed that the fuel used in traveling the Subic to Clark stretch averaging above 80 kph is basically the same using the usual route plus the Dinalupihan Bataan Interchange of SCTX with it’s usual traffic.

 In terms of tire wear, the SCTX would present a bit of advantage. But if one would be driving fast say above 100 kph, I think it is the same as taking the not so smooth roads of Pampanga traveling below 80 kph and of course… the way a person drives.

A word of caution though, during the rainy season, portions of Dinalupihan-Bataan is prone to flooding.

The SCTX is one (or the “only”) of the good news that is hard to come by in our country nowadays and I believe first timers would really try the whole 47 km of SCTX as we did. Travel to and from Manila may further improve once the other interchanges are complete.

Photos of SCTX… click here!