Metro Pacific mulls Cavitex, Sangley Airport expressway

MANILA, Philippines – A unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) is studying a plan to construct an expressway to connect the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (Cavitex) to Rosario and Sangley Airport in Cavite.

Romulo Quimbo Jr., head of legal and regulatory affairs at Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. (MPTDC), told reporters Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) is looking at building a 9.8-kilometer, four-lane expressway as a replacement to the original Segment 5 alignment which was taken over by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and now designated as the Centennial Road.

The expressway is also envisioned to connect Cavitex to Rosario and Sangley Airport.

“It’s like this, the stage of the project development starts with identifying the so-called alignment. So, it’s an alignment study, meaning the actual route. That’s where we are,” Quimbo said.

While the expressway is not part of the Cavitex concession, he said it is very close to Cavitex so it makes sense to build it.

MPTC is also considering building the expressway amid a proposal to build a new international airport in Sangley.

All-Asia Resources and Reclamation Corp. (ARRC), composed of the Tieng family and SM Group’s Belle Corp., has proposed to build an international airport, seaport as well as a mixed-use development on reclaimed land off the coast of Sangley Point in Cavite.

Apart from the proposed Sangley gateway, ARRC has also submitted a separate proposal to the government to rehabilitate the existing Danilo Atienza Airport in Sangley, as well as build a terminal and operate it to be able to accommodate general aviation aircraft and small low-cost carriers.

ARRC’s proposal was put forward amid congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

It is likewise seen to help address Metro Manila traffic and position the Philippines as an export and manufacturing hub in Asia.

Quimbo said MPTC is currently monitoring the developments on ARRC’s proposal.

While MPTC has not submitted a proposal to the government for the expressway to link Cavitex to Rosario and Sangley Airport, he said the firm has informed the DPWH of its interest to implement the project.

MPIC, through MPTC, is currently the country’s largest toll operator.

Apart from Cavitex, MPIC also operates the North Luzon Expressway and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.