Major infrastructure projects lined up to ease traffic

MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Corp. (SMC), the country’s diversified conglomerate, is preparing big-ticket infrastructure projects to help decongest traffic in Metro Manila, including a proposed bypass and terminal for provincial buses that will not pass along EDSA.

The bypass and transport terminal will be a joint project with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), SMC president and chief operations officer Ramon Ang said over the weekend.

It is seen to ease traffic jams on EDSA as provincial buses no longer have to pass through the congested highway.

Under the joint project with the DOTr, SMC will provide a designated lane along the Connector Road for buses and UV express vehicles so they can bypass EDSA.

“Provincial buses will be able to bypass EDSA through the Skyway 3 and there will be a designated terminal for buses. It will be called bus and foot terminal. Next year, this will be up and running,” Ang said.

He said the project would address traffic congestion in the metropolis and at the same time provide convenience to commuters coming from the provinces.

Another project is the express train from Metro Manila to the proposed Bulacan Airport and the new airport itself.

Ang said the express train would translate to travel time of only 15 minutes from EDSA to Bulacan.

As for the airport, Ang said SMC is ready to jumpstart the $15-billion Bulacan airport project as soon it hurdles the Swiss challenge.

He said the company’s airport proposal has been subjected to a Swiss challenge, but he does not expect any other party to make a bid for the big infrastructure project.

“The DOTr is preparing the final concession terms,” he said.

When asked if there would be a similar proposal to challenge the SMC’s airport plan, Ang said it is unlikely given the size of the investment and the lack of government subsidy or take-off agreement.

“It would be difficult to pose a challenge to that,” he said.

But with the company’s plan for the airport, Ang said it would be a viable investment for SMC.

“It will be for our country and it will be viable as a business,” he said.

Once SMC surpasses the Swiss challenge, Ang said the company is ready to commence the project with the funding already secured.

“We are ready. We have internal cash,” he said.

Last April, the DOTr started the bidding process for the Bulacan airport project.

It invited interested companies and groups to submit comparative proposals to the SMC’s New Manila International Airport project that will rise in Bulacan.

The opening of bids is set on June 23.