MPIC sets sights on two road PPP projects

MANILA, Philippines - Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) is interested in two road projects under the public-private partnership (PPP) program.

“Depending on the terms, we’ll be interested in Plaridel Bypass and the Central Luzon Link Expressway Projects,” Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) president and chief executive officer Rodrigo Franco said in a text message.

The proposed Plaridel Bypass Toll Road Project involves the conversion of the existing road into a toll road.

The Plaridel Bypass Road is a 24.61-kilometer road which starts at the Balagtas interchange in the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) up to San Rafael in Bulacan.

Under the PPP project, the road would be expanded to have four lanes with 3.50 meter width per lane and 2.5 meter width shoulder.

The winning private partner will be responsible for the construction of additional interchanges, overpass or underpass, as well as provision for service roads and operations and maintenance.

The project which secured approval from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Investment Coordination Committee-Cabinet Committee in October last year, will still need the green light of the NEDA Board before it can be rolled out and implemented.

Once implemented, the project is expected to address growing traffic demand and provide savings to motorists in terms of vehicle operating costs and travel time. 

The Central Luzon Link Expressway Phase II Project, meanwhile, is a 35.7-kilometer expressway in Nueva Ecija which would extend the Phase I covering a 30.7-kilometer expressway from Tarlac City in Tarlac to Cabanatuan City, with ongoing construction through an Official Development Assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The PPP project will connect Cabanatuan City to San Jose City in the Nueva Ecija province.       

MPIC through MPTC, is the largest toll operator in the country, operating the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway, NLEX and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.