Infrastructure development defines PGMA's 9-year tenure  

As the year drew to a close, the current administration could look back with a sense of great accomplishment.

When she assumed office nine years ago, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo set out to create the physical infrastructure to spur and sustain economic development.

She has kept her eyes on the ball, so to speak. And the country has much to thank for such single-mindedness

Under the 2006-2010 Medium-Term Public Development Program (MTPDP), P94.19 billion has been spent for the construction or rehabilitation and improvement of major road arteries.

SCTEX Tops List

The P32 billion Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), located north of Manila, tops the list of completed new road projects. Now in full operation, the 94-kilometer SCTEX reduces travel time from Manila to Tarlac to one hour and 25 minutes and from Clark to Tarlac to a mere 25 minutes.

And SCTEX, a part of the Luzon Urban Beltway, is just an example of the government's thrust in this direction.