MVP agrees with Roxas on toll projects

MANILA, Philippines—Business executive Manuel V. Pangilinan may push through with his “connector road” project, even if the government approves a similar road proposal backed by San Miguel Corp.

Pangilinan, chairman of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), said he agreed with Transportation Secretary Mar Roxas who earlier said that two north-to-south tollroads in different locations in Metro Manila could co-exist.

Under most concession deals, the government usually rejects other proposals that may affect the profitability of the first project.

“The government has been saying that competition is good for the consumer. So be it,” said Pangilinan.

MPIC subsidiary Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) offered to build a road from the Metro Manila Skyway to the Port area in Tondo. This would link to the planned “Harbor Link” section of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx).

MPIC is the local unit of Hong Kong’s First Pacific Co. Ltd.

Both roads would form the so-called “connector road” that links the two major toll road systems north and south of Metro Manila.

A similar proposal by Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. (CMMTC), which is backed by conglomerate San Miguel Corp., calls for the construction of an elevated toll road from the Skyway in Makati to Quezon City, near the Balintawak entrance of NLEx.

Both proposals are currently being studied by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), but Roxas on Monday said since both roads travel through different alignments, these would serve different markets. “If possible, why not approve both?” Roxas said.

In the meantime, Pangilinan said the construction of NLEx’s “Segment 9,” which would connect to MacArthur Highway, is expected to start by the fourth quarter of the year. He said MPTC was also close to completing its detailed engineering study for Segment 10 that would link to Segment 9 and Manila North Harbor. Segments 9 and 10 make up the “Harbor Link” Road.