PORAC -- The president of Porac Quarry Association (PQA) on Sunday clarified that it is not their group who will be putting up the proposed toll road at the Western portion of the Mega Dike.

Mike Tapang, in a phone interview, said the PQA has no capability of putting up a toll road at the 15.3-kilometer Western portion of the Mega Dike.

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Tapang said that contrary to earlier reports, the "unsolicited proposal" submitted to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is for the construction of the said road network through a Build-Operate-Transfer scheme similar to the NLEx and SCTEx.

"For the record, hindi kami (PQA) and sisingil dyan kung magagawa and toll road, ang Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) ang magseset ng mga corresponding fees, together with the investor. Ang sa amin habang hindi nagagawa ang daan na yan ay kami muna ang mag memaintain para dyan na dumaan ng mga trucks," he said.

He said the PQA will be only adding "necessary additional fees" to members of their association, particularly quarry operators, to be used for the maintenance of the "dirt road."

Tapang said they have already submitted a memorandum of agreement (MOA) given to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Central Luzon, to allow trucks carrying sand to use the western portion of the said dike, adding that the PQA will shoulder the maintenance of the said dirt road with no expense to the government.

"Kung hahayaan ang mga truck na dumaan sa may mega dike ay mababawasan ang trapik sa Porac at Angeles City. Bukod dito ay ma preserve pa natin ang mga daan dahil less volume ng mga truck ang daraan sa mga daan na ito," Tapang said.

He said the MOA is in connection with an Executive Order of the Angeles City Government to impose truck ban from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on November 15.

"Kung ma imposed na ang truck ban sa Angeles ay walang choice ang mga truck kundi dumaan sa western portion, dahil di narin kami makararaan sa Sta. Rita, dahil may truck ban narin doon. Itong western portion (Mega Dike) ang pinaka ideal na alternate route, dahil for the past 10 years ay ginagamit na ito ng mga truck, kaya kami nakikipag MOA sa DPWH to give them assurance na kami ang bahala sa pag maintain dito," Tapang said.

Tapang said that if the proposed toll road at the western portion of the dike will be built at an estimated cost of P1 billion, "it will bring in more investors and spur business activities in Porac."

"Kung magawa na ang daan na ito kamukha ng NLEx at SCTEx ay siguradong darami ang mga investors at lalago ang business climate dito sa Porac, dahil magiging accesable tayo via NLEx, SCTEx, not to mention ang airport sa Clark at seaport ng Subic, darami ang trabaho dahil sa mga nasusulputang mga negosyo dito," Tapang added.

The PQA president added that he hopes that DPWH-Central Luzon Director Alfredo Tolentino will give a favorable decision on the MOA, saying that it is not only for the betterment of his organization but for the whole town of Porac and its environs. (Chris Navarro)