Submission to pave way for concession deal on NLEX-SLEX connector project

MANILA, Philippines - A unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) yesterday submitted post-award requirements for the North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway (NLEX-SLEX)  Connector Road project to pave the way for the signing of the concession agreement with the government.

“We are submitting the documents that are required for the effectivity of the notice of award. This will also pave the way for the signing of the concession agreement,” Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) president and CEO Rodrigo Franco said in a text message.

Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. (MPTDC) subsidiary MNTC received the notice of award for the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project issued by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) last week.

Franco said the requirements submitted by MNTC under the notice of award include performance security as well as banks’ letter of intent to lend for the funding of the project.

The NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project is a public-private partnership between the government and MPTDC.

The DPWH awarded the project to MPTDC after no comparative proposals were submitted by other firms during a Swiss challenge held in July.

A Swiss challenge was conducted as the project is an unsolicited proposal received by the government from MPTDC in April 2010.

Under the project, MPTDC will be responsible for the design, financing, construction, as well as operation and maintenance of a four-lane, eight-kilometer elevated toll expressway over the right of way of the Philippine National Railways starting at the junction of the NLEX Segment 10 at C-3 Road/5th Avenue in Caloocan City, and connecting to the SLEX through the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Project in the city of Manila.

The project is seen to help ease congestion in Metro Manila as well as cut the time it takes to go between NLEX and SLEX to just 15 to 20 minutes from 1.5 to two hours at present.

Franco earlier said the acquisition of right-of-way (ROW) for the project is expected to begin following the receipt of notice of award from the government.

He said the government has 30 months from signing of Toll Concession Agreement to deliver the ROW.

“We are hoping though that the government can deliver the ROW in sections to enable us to start sectional construction before the 30-month deadline,” he said.

MPIC is currently the country’s largest toll operator.

For his part, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said during the notice of award ceremony yesterday that he is hopeful the connector road could open by 2020, ahead of the 2021 target, noting that the infrastructure conglomerate led by Manuel V. Pangilinan has a good team.