The 94-kilometer Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) has helped drive business growth across Central Luzon by enabling enterprises to expand their operations, reach new markets, and attract more customers.
Serving more than 80,000 vehicles daily, the expressway also supports trade, tourism, and regional economic development by providing safe and reliable travel.
Business leaders highlight SCTEX impact
During a recent visit to the NLEX Corporation head office, members of the Pampanga Business Circle shared how SCTEX has contributed to the growth of their businesses and the region’s economy.
The Pampanga Business Circle is a non-partisan fellowship of business and sectoral leaders in Pampanga.
For homegrown brands, SCTEX has opened opportunities beyond provincial borders, according to restaurateur Vickee Navallo Dela Cruz-Ong.
“As a homegrown restaurant in Pampanga, proper highways have 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.”
She added that safe, fast, and on-time operations are no longer only business goals, but realities made possible by reliable road connectivity.
Supporting food and tourism
Chef Felix Asuncion also highlighted the role of infrastructure in sustaining Central Luzon’s 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.”
Businessman Rene Romero said SCTEX has also made travel between neighboring provinces faster and more convenient.
“People from Olongapo or Tarlac now regularly drive to Angeles or San Fernando just to have dinner with us, and vice versa,” Romero said. “The highway is so beautiful and well-maintained that many visitors say it doesn’t feel like they’re driving in the Philippines. It has strengthened both business activity and social connectivity.”
Infrastructure for regional development
Luis S. Reñon, president and general manager of NLEX Corporation, said the company remains committed to providing infrastructure that supports regional development and improves mobility across 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. We’re pleased to see that this long-standing commitment has contributed to business expansion and the overall economic growth of Central Luzon,” Reñon said.
As Central Luzon continues to emerge as one of the country’s key economic hubs, SCTEX remains an important transport corridor supporting tourism, trade, and investments that contribute to the region’s sustained growth.