MANILA, Philippines--The much-awaited opening of the 94-kilometer Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) is expected to open the floodgates of investments in Luzon, a prospect which was celebrated through a weekend of sports activities spearheaded by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).

One of the highlights of the celebration was a torch relay participated in by BCDA chair Al Santos and BCDA president and CEO Narciso Abaya, Clark International Airport Corp. president Victor Luciano, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority administrator Armand Arreza and Sec. Edgardo Pamintuan, head of the Subic-Clark Alliance For Development (formerly known as the Subic-Clark Area Development Council). Clark Development Corp. president and CEO Levy Laus, who was out of the country, was represented by his staff. Megaworld chair and CEO Andrew Tan, and the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company's Butch Jimenez also participated in the torch relay.

There was a cycling event where Ayala Land chair Fernando Zobel de Ayala, Integrated Microelectronics Inc. CEO Arthur Tan, Alaska Milk Corp. CEO Wilfred Uytengsu Jr., among others, joined.

There was also a motorcycling convention and exhibition where Department of Transportation and Communications Undersecretary Reynaldo Berroya participated together with the Luzon Motorcycling Federation.

Sports professionals and enthusiasts also joined, including world triathlete Chrissie Wellington and the Pinoy Ultra Runners.

"The marathon showcased the SCTEx as an impetus for economic development. It opens up the region to investment now that there is access, especially because it links the seaport [in Subic] to the airport [in Clark]," Luciano said in a telephone interview.

"The sports events also marked the first and last time that people and small vehicles can use the SCTEx," says SCTEx program manager Robert Gervacio.

The BCDA earlier said in a statement that it expects the SCTEx, the country's longest tollway, to create more job opportunities in the ecozones and its surrounding areas, especially with the expected integration of activities between the Clark and Subic special economic zones.

When fully completed, the SCTEx will initially serve some 30,000 vehicles a day, with the provinces of Pampanga, Tarlac, Bataan and Zambales as the primary beneficiaries, according to project leaders.

Two other major roads--the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), which have been operating for years--average 150,000 vehicles a day each.