MPIC unit hoping to get OK for Cavite-Batangas expressway

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) is keen on pursuing its proposed toll road linking Cavite and Batangas despite overlaps in its alignment with another expressway project by San Miguel Corp. (SMC).

Raul Ignacio, president and general manager of MPTC unit MPT South Management Corp., told reporters they were still in discussions with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) over the matter, hoping it could eventually be submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority for review.

“We have not given up on that,” he said.

MPTC was granted the original proponent status (OPS) for the P25.24-billion Cavite-Tagaytay-Batangas Expressway (CTBEx) in 2018. The project seeks to “provide free-flowing, high facility alternative route for traffic, presently plying Aguinaldo Highway and Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road, which are experiencing congestion during peak periods and weekends.”

The 50.43-kilometer tollway project traverses Silang, Pook, Aguinaldo, Amadeo, Mendez, Alfonso, Magallanes and Nasugbu.

SMC’s 27.06-km Cavite-Batangas Expressway (CBEx), meanwhile, passes through Silang, Amadeo, Tagaytay, Indang, Mendez and Alfonso in Cavite and Nasugbu, Batangas.

Final go-signal

Ignacio said they were counting on a Swiss challenge “soon” to be able to receive the final go-signal within the year.

A Swiss challenge is being conducted to invite other proposals that can rival the original offer. The OPS is then allowed to match counter offers during the process; if no better offer was filed, it will emerge as the winner.

The Ramon Ang-led conglomerate and the Cavite government recently inked a tollway concession agreement for CBEx. It also signed a joint venture agreement with the Batangas provincial government for Nasugbu-Bauan Expressway, which will be connected to CBEx.

The DPWH had said it needed to study the two Cavite and Batangas linkages given the overlaps in their alignments.

Manuel Bonoan, secretary of the DPWH, said they were addressing the issues so that both could proceed with construction. INQ