INTRODUCTION
One of the seven growth strategies that we have adopted to realize our shared vision of “Philippines 2000!!!” is the building of modern public infrastructure. The road to development, literally, must be well mapped and smoothly laid out to accelerate and sustain the economic growth that we have successfully launched.
LUZON’S “HAPPY CONNECTION”
Our economy grows outward from the National Capital Region (NCR) which is in Luzon. Because our country is archipelagic in nature and consists of three major island groupings, we have identified and are developing similar growth centers in the Visayas and Mindanao from which vibrant economic activities simultaneously emanate.

Metro Manila’s location in the middle of our biggest island necessitates a strong connection between northern and central Luzon on the one hand and Southern Tagalog and the Bicol region on the other. Our infrastructure undertakings in the recent past have addressed this need to bolster Luzon’s — and the country’s — road to modernization.

In July 1995, the Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC) and the First Philippine Infrastructure Development Corporation (FPIDC) entered into a joint venture agreement for the rehabilitation and expansion of the existing North Luzon Expressway, its extension to Subic, and the construction of the northern and final section of the C-5 Highway.

In August of the same year, PNCC and PT Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada of Indonesia signed their joint venture agreement to construct, operate and maintain the first Skyway project to be undertaken in the Philippines, the Metro Manila Skyway.

I witnessed both momentous occasions last year. Today, I am delighted to witness this third joint venture agreement involving PNCC which will complete the “happy connection” of all of Luzon.

The joint venture agreement entered into by PNCC and Hong Kong-based Hopewell Holdings, will extend the South Luzon Tollway from Calamba, Laguna, to Pagbilao, Quezon, and rehabilitate and widen the tollway’s Alabang-Calamba segment. The timely completion of this project will enhance the development activities in all of southern Luzon, particularly in the growth corridor of Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon (Calabarzon).

Hopewell Holdings chaired by Gordon Wu has a prestigious international track record earned through its efficiency, social conscience and ability to deliver on time.
CONCRETE EXPRESSIONS OF OUR RESOLVE
The surge of infrastructure-building activities in the NCR and in the countryside continues in support of our determined bid to join the rest of Asia-Pacific in the coming feast of the Pacific century. We still have a lot of catching up to do but we have certainly made up for much of the time we had lost.

Luzon’s breadth, from west to east, is now well-paved with the recent completion of the Famy-Infanta Road that ends facing the Pacific Ocean. The Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway in the north, including the mountain roads, are in much better condition now with the rehabilitation of the Dalton Pass section and the continuing improvement of the Benigno Aquino (Old Halsema) Highway in the cordilleras. This Saturday, Clark International Airport will open to inaugural flights for jumbo jets.

The other regions of the country are in near-frenzy laying out infrastructures that will lead them to sufficiency and global competitiveness. Next month, for example, we will inaugurate the new international airport of General Santos City. And the Batangas International Seaport is going on nicely according to schedule.
CLOSING
With these solid and concrete expressions of our resolve to catch up with the dynamism of Asia-pacific, we are confident that we will not only attain our socio-economic targets but also achieve better equity and growth balance throughout the country.

I commend PNCC and Hopewell for sharing the same confidence and optimism. Working together, along with the cooperation of our other investors and the support of our people, the Philippines’ prospects for modernization have become brighter than ever.

Thank you and mabuhay!