SCTEX boosts Central Luzon economic growth

NLEX Corp. said they will continue to provide road infrastructure that enhances mobility and supports regional economic growth, citing the proven impact of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) at enhancing business activity across Central Luzon.

NLEX president Luis Reñon said their company has been providing safe and reliable transport infrastructure that unlocks the economic potential of Northern and Central Luzon.

“For years, our goal has been to showcase the beauty and potential of Northern and Central Luzon by providing safe and reliable road access,” Reñon said. “We’re pleased to see this long-standing commitment has contributed to business expansion and the overall economic growth of Central Luzon.”

As Central Luzon continues to emerge as one of the country’s key economic hubs, SCTEX remains a vital transport corridor supporting tourism, trade and investments that sustains the region’s economic growth.

The 94-kilometer SCTEX, which serves more than 80,000 vehicles daily, has become a key transport artery connecting Subic, Clark, and Tarlac. The expressway enabled businesses to expand operations, reach new markets and improve movement of goods and people across Northern and Central Luzon.

During a visit to NLEX’s head office, members of the Pampanga Business Circle — a nonpartisan association of business and sectoral leaders — shared how the country’s oldest expressway transformed their businesses and strengthened the region’s economy.

Vickee Navallo Dela Cruz-Ong, a restaurateur, said improved road infrastructure has made expansion beyond the province possible.

“As a homegrown restaurant in Pampanga, proper highways helped us expand outside of our home province,” Dela Cruz-Ong said. “Without proper infrastructure, expansion would have been much more difficult. Because of SCTEX, we were able to expand to places like Subic, Tarlac, and Baguio without worrying about delivering our goods on time or ensuring that our people could travel safely.”

Chef Felix Asuncion also highlighted the role of infrastructure in sustaining Central Luzon’s thriving food and tourism industries.

“For us business owners, especially in the food industry, roads are very, very important,” he said. “When there’s connectivity, there is also celebration and festivity. Pampanga is the culinary capital of the Philippines, and accessible roads make it easier for tourists to visit. That creates a ripple effect that helps improve the local economy.”

NLEX is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), the toll road arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC).