Senate panel mulls probe on hasty titling of lands along SCTEX

The Senate blue ribbon panel is considering conducting an investigation into the alleged sudden titling of lands along the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) for irregularities.

Senator Richard J. Gordon (Ind.) said the panel, which he chairs, may look into the issue because the sudden issuance of titles for what used to be idle lands along both sides of the new highway may hinder the development plans in the area, such as the creation of ecozones there to decongest Manila.

"E hayan na nga sinasabi na nga natin na nakuha na yung mga lupa ng malalaking tao. Wala namang nakatira diyan noong araw pero nung ginawa yung highway nagbilihan na ng property diyan. Natituluhan na. The blue ribbon could look into that," he said.

"So ang mangyayari, mahal na naman yung lupa. Hindi na naman makakapasok ang investors dahil mahal yung lupa. We want to evade that, uunahan natin ang development by coming out with a master plan and saying, there will be universities, businesses, economic zones and the local governments can participate, etc," he added.

Gordon filed Senate Bill No. 143, which aims to strengthen and expand the powers of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Clark Development Corporation (CDC). This will allow the SBMA and the CDC to develop other special economic zones in Luzon to optimize the utitilization of the three airports in Subic, Clark and Manila; two seaport in Subic and Manila and one connecting highway and railway in Luzon.

During the hearing of the committee on government corporations and public enterprises on Wednesday, the senator stressed that the government is tasked to promote entrepreneurship and create job opportunities through full and efficient use of its resources, such as infrastructures.

"Gumawa ang gobyerno ng napakalaking gastos na highway, napakaganda, konti pa lang ang gumagamit kasi hindi pa nararamdaman yung critical mass. We do not build infrastructure and do nothing afterwards. Sayang. We must not forget that the very purpose of infrastructure is to provide development, provide employment para mapakinabangan ng mamamayan," he said.

In line with this, Gordon created a technical working group (TWG), composed of all the stakeholders, which will create a master plan and a land use plan for the development of the area.

"What we'd like to do is to polish the masterplan right away and try to put this bill out in the next two weeks on the floor," he said.