Metro Pacific bankrolls P153 B for road PPP

MANILA, Philippines - Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC)’s tollway arm is set to spend P153 billion for public-private partnership (PPP) deals as well as expansion projects for this year until early next year.

In a press conference yesterday, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) president and chief executive officer Rodrigo Franco said the company is investing over P100 billion both for PPP projects as well as expansion works at existing tollways North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).

He said construction for the P55.9-billion Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) project and the P11.7-billion Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (Cavitex) C-5 South Link are set to begin this month. 

The CALAX project covers the construction, as well as operation and maintenance of a four-lane 45-kilometer (km) expressway from CAVITEX in Kawit, Cavite to South Luzon Expressway (SLEX)-Mamplasan interchange in Biñan, Laguna. 

The 7.7-km C-5 South Link Expressway will link the R-1 in Parañaque to C-5 to CAVITEX.

Franco said construction for the P27.9-billion Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway in the Visayas, meanwhile, will start in July. 

Covering 8.25 km, the four-lane Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway toll bridge will connect Cebu City to Mactan Island via Cordova. 

Apart from the three projects, Franco said the company is also spending for the P23.3-billion NLEX - SLEX Connector Road which will start construction in the first quarter of next year. 

The eight-km, four lane NLEX-SLEX Connector Road is an elevated 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 Manila.

MPTC is also investing in upgrades along the NLEX and SCTEX to provide convenience to motorists using the expressways. 

The upgrades include construction of additional lanes and exits, expansion of toll plazas and interchanges, as well as traffic management and safety enhancements. 

“With these projects in the pipeline, we will see a great improvement in traffic decongestion in Metro Manila as we embark on more infrastructure projects to connect the North and the South,” Franco said. 

Aside from tollways, MPIC is involved in other businesses such as water, power, hospitals, rail and logistics.