Cavitex operator wants peaceful settlement of dispute with PRA

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MANILA, Philippines — The private operator of Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) wants to resolve “through peaceful and lawful means” the dispute with its joint-venture partner, a unit of the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) unit that filed a case before the Court of Appeals (CA) to take over the toll road operations.

“We firmly believe that open communication and collaborative problem-solving are the most effective means of resolving disputes,” Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. (CIC), a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), said in a statement on Monday.

PRA unit Public Estates Authority Tollway Corp. (PEATC) recently announced it had filed a petition at CA to transfer the operations and management of Cavitex, as well as the toll fee collection, to the government agency.

The PEATC said that CIC no longer had the authority to handle Cavitex operations. PRA also said the current 90:10 income division in favor of CIC, which has been in place for 26 years, was a “cause for scrutiny.”

The government agency said it had asked to revise the income division to 40:60, with the government having the higher share, as the toll expressway has already been generating significant revenues.

In its latest available financial report, CIC saw its toll revenues improve by 24 percent to P2.1 billion in 2022 from P1.69 billion in 2021. This resulted in its net income rising by 50 percent to P782.85 million in 2022.

Call for sobriety

Inquirer reached out to the toll operator but has yet to receive further clarification on the matter.

Still, the Pangilinan-led company stressed that any legal dispute involving CIC should also include PRA given they are working together as a joint venture.

READ: Manila-Cavitex link set to be completed in Q1 of 2024

“MPTC reiterates its commitment to uphold the highest standards of corporate governance and ethical conduct. We remain steadfast in our dedication to resolve disputes through peaceful and lawful means, prioritizing the interests of all stakeholders involved,” the company said.

“We hope that the parties involved will address the issue with sobriety, professionalism, and a genuine willingness to engage in meaningful dialogue towards a mutually beneficial resolution,” it added.

READ: Work starts on phase 2 of Manila-Cavitex link

MPTC is currently working on the 7.7-kilometer Cavitex C-5 Link, which will connect motorists from Makati and Taguig to Parañaque, Las Piñas and Cavite.

Its portfolio includes the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), NLEx Connector, Cavite-Laguna Expressway, Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway and Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway. INQ