Best of the Philippines

Things are moving fast north of Manila. The quickest routes to a better business environment and more promising tourist destinations in Central Luzon have recently been opened, ushering in promise for those who wish to join the growth of the country's progressive economic region. Continue below.

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The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), now under new management, is clearly a vision of the future -a modern thoroughfare that will connect to the proposed Subic Clark-Tarlac Expressway, a four lane highway with eight interchanges that will span the distance between Subic and Clark and end in the neighboring province of Tarlac.

The NLEX is now a multilane marvel; a big improvement from its earlier state that is now providing travelers speedy access to all business and tourist points north of Metro Manila.

Among those getting in the game early in anticipation of a heavy influx of northern travelers is Ayala Land Inc. (ALI), which is soon to embark on a leisure community development that will embrace the best of what Central Luzon's natural resources has to offer.

The modernized and upgraded NLEX facility, built and operated with expert technology from Australia and Europe, features world class infrastructure -newer and wider lanes; state-of-the-art toll booths where motorists can pay using the e-pass system, cash, or prepaid cards; and computerized monitoring and security systems.

Ecozone locators and investors now have easier, safer and faster access to Central Luzon's vital business and development installations through this modernized alternative bypass route-a better option over traversing the congested areas of the national capital region and nearby provinces.

The improved NLEX is anticipated to prime the economic pump in Subic and neighboring areas such as Pampanga and Bataan, because improved accessibility will inevitably attract more local and foreign investments.

Moreover, the proposed 94.5 kilometer Subic Clark-Tarlac Expressway will provide a direct link among Subic Bay's international port, the ecozone and the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark and technoparks in Tarlac.

It is seen to create a formidable industrial-logistical complex, with access between the Philippines and other vital hubs in the Asia-Pacific region.

Said ALI president and chief executive Jaime I. Ayala: "These vast new developments in Central Luzon, seen to be brought about by the vehicular gateway that is the new NLEX and the Subic Clark-Tarlac Expressway, will surely transform the area into a thriving economic and tourist hub. And we at Ayala Land are looking forward to maximizing this dynamic new environment with the unveiling of our exciting new residential resort development."

He also revealed that the first step in realizing this vision is already underway with the joint development agreement that was forged recently between ALI and Sudeco, a private real estate holding firm established in 1998. The agreement details the development of a high-end seaside residential resort community located near Subic Bay, in the neighboring town of Morong, Bataan. This pioneering project will involve over 320 hectares of Sudeco's idyllic property, set in a unique environment featuring both mountain and sea.

Ayala said ALI envisions this resort community to be a venue where family bonding memories will be forged in a highly interactive natural leisure setting with its 3.5-kilometer coastline, gently rolling terrain, a peak elevation of 135 meters, and spectacular views of Subic Bay and the mountain ranges of Zambales and Bataan.

The new NLEX has already cut travel time to Subic to two hours. As travel to Subic gets easier, both local tourists and those who have hometowns in Central Luzon will definitely look forward to weekend visits and in this new dynamic area development in the country.

February 26, 2005

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