MPTC open to adjustments on CTBEX proposal

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) is open to make certain adjustments on its unsolicited proposal to build the P22.43-billion Cavite-Tagaytay-Batangas Expressway (CTBEX) to reach an agreement with the government and eventually proceed to the Swiss challenge phase.

MPCALA Holdings Inc. president and general manager Roberto Bontia said the company and the government are still at the stage of discussing the parameters, terms, and conditions for it to be able to undertake the Swiss challenge.

“We’re still discussing through DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways). They are coordinating with NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) the different parameters and conditions for us to undertake the Swiss challenge,” Bontia said.

“In terms of the ongoing discussions, there are certain parameters that we need to come into terms. I think certain parameters relating to the right of way acquisition and also some issues on the real property tax we are clarifying with the government,” he said.

Bontia said MPCALA is “not closed to coming into terms with certain adjustments in the conditions.”

“We’re hopeful that we can reach an agreement. But I think at the moment, we are maintaining the conditions that we have set forth when we submitted the original proposal as part of us being the original proponent for that project,” he said.

MPTC unit-MPCALA has been granted the original proponent status (OPS) by the DPWH for the CTBEX proposal in July 2018.

It is one of the first projects that have been granted OPS by the DPWH under the current administration.

The CTBEX proposal will connect from the west of Silang East Interchange of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway and will pass through Silang, Pook, Amadeo, Tagaytay, Mendez, Alfonso, Magallanes, Tuy and Nasugbu.

The project was conceived in early 2016 in line with MPTC’s commitment to help bring progress to the western part of Southern Luzon.

“As far as the local government units’ endorsement, we are happy to report that the province of Cavite, the regional board, has already endorsed the project, and then we’ve secured, except for one LGU, all of the endorsements of all LGUs affected by that alignment positively for that project,” Bontia said.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar last year pushed for the accelerated approval of the CTBEX proposal with NEDA, noting that it is one of the agency’s priority projects.

Having been granted the OPS, MPTC will have the upper hand as it can match any offer submitted by other parties for the project once it undergoes the Swiss challenge.