The Social Security System and Government Service Insurance System could buy the shares of Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway to benefit their pension funds, according to Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto.
Recto told reporters on Tuesday that the government has plans for the SCTEX including selling some of the shares to the private sector to raise revenue or to sell it to pension funds.
“But the government has a few shares. And I think it's better off that we sell those shares to raise revenue, non-tax revenue, and better siguro the pension funds buy from us. Para makinabang naman yung SSS at GSIS,” he said at the sidelines of the Department of Budget and Management’s 50th anniversary.
The finance chief said it will be meeting with the state-run pension funds soon to discuss the plans for the buy-out of SCTEX.
The SCTEX is the longest expressway in the Philippines, stretching over 93.77 kilometers.
Half of the revenues from the SCTEX are channeled to the Pangilinan-led NLEX Corp., the concessionaire, while the other half is allocated to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA).
The BCDA still has to fulfill its debt with the Japan International Cooperation Agency for the ¥59.04-billion construction of the expressway.
Earlier, the BCDA expressed its interest in divesting its ownership in the SCTEX to a group led by businessman Manny V. Pangilinan.