MPIC eyes construction of C-5 South Link by 2017

MANILA, Philippines - A unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) is planning to start the construction of the 7.7-kilometer, six-lane C-5 South Link Expressway, which will connect C-5 road to the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (Cavitex) by early next year instead of this year.

Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. (CIC) president Luigi Bautista said the construction for the expressway’s first phase covering a flyover to connect C-5 Road in Taguig to Merville in Sucat, Parañaque, which costs P2.5 billion, has yet to start.

“(We) hope to start first quarter of 2017,” he said in a text message.

Construction for the first phase was initially expected to begin in July this year after the no-objection to the project was given by Skyway operator Skyway O&M Corp.

“We are still missing the no objection,” Bautista said.

The expressway’s second phase, which will cover Merville to Coastal Road (Cavitex), is estimated to cost around P7.5 billion.

Earlier, the company said the new expressway is expected to be completed by 2019.

When completed, the C-5 South Link is expected to benefit those coming from Cavite, Las Piñas and parts of Parañaque by having a direct link to and from C-5 to Cavitex.

It will likewise provide a seamless connection to the 45-kilometer Cavite-Laguna Expressway awarded to MPIC under the public-private partnership program and is slated for completion in 2020.

About 40,000 to 45,000 vehicles are seen to use the C-5 South Link when it starts commercial operations.

Once operational, the C-5 South Link is also expected to contribute about 15 percent of the revenues of MPIC’s tollway arm Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC).

MPIC through MPTC is the largest toll operator in the country.

Aside from the Cavitex network of toll roads, the group operates the North Luzon Expressway and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.

In July, MPIC won the contract for the North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway Connector Road as no comparative proposals were received from other firms for a Swiss Challenge organized by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The infrastructure conglomerate is also involved in the Cebu-Cordova Bridge Project which covers a toll bridge to connect Cebu City to Mactan Island via Cordova.