Marcos urges BCDA to ensure completion of New Clark City Access Road

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Wednesday called on the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) to ensure the completion of the New Clark City Access Road, which is seen to enhance connectivity across Luzon. 

In a speech, Marcos said the road project dubbed ANAR is much more than just an access road as it seeks to propel Clark as an alternate growth area.

''So, I ask you in the BCDA to ensure the completion of the remaining works for this 20-kilometer highway," Marcos said, noting that once operational, the road will reduce travel time between Clark International Airport and New Clark City from one hour to 20 minutes. 

"It will also save commuters money – as ANAR is toll free,'' the President said.

Marcos delivered the speech as he graced the inspection of the airport to New Clark City Access Road at the Sacobia Bridge located within the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone (CFEZ) in Pampanga. 

''Going by BCDA’s track record, I trust in the quality of the workmanship of this road, and in your commitment to observe the relevant procurement rules, laws, and regulations,'' Marcos said. 

The President said Clark could host a wide range of economic activities including innovation labs, creative workshops, manufacturing concerns, leisure complexes, and a cyber corridor.

''If food happens to be the concern, then Clark is in the heartland of an agricultural powerhouse. Not to mention the powerful draw and the seductive aroma of Kapampangan cuisine,'' Marcos said. 

''In short, the Clark metropolis has what it takes to be a mecca for tourists, a magnet of investments, and a market of goods and services,'' he added. 

The 20-kilometer project, with a cost of P8.42 billion, serves as a dedicated access road with the goal of enhancing connectivity across Luzon, aiming to revolutionize travel and trade between Central and Northern Luzon, Metro Manila and Clark International Airport.

The road includes a 900-meter bridge over the Sacobia River in Bamban, Tarlac that showcases both engineering prowess and environmental sensitivity.

The ANAR project seeks to alleviate traffic congestion and boost economic growth by improving travel efficiency across Luzon, connecting major urban centers and transportation hubs. —KBK, GMA Integrated News