SLEX rehab, extension faces delay

The rehabilitation of the Alabang viaduct of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), its connection to the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) and its eventual extension from Lipa to Batangas City is again facing a delay following obstacles presented by the Philippine National Construction Co. (PNCC).

The SLEX expansion is being pushed by Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar V. Purisima as part of President Arroyo’s program to improve the country’s infrastructure and decongest Metro Manila.

The SLEX is the primary logistics highway for 60 percent of the country’s exports.

Likewise, most of the country’s exports go through the Port of Manila or the Ninoy Aquino International Airport which are both located in heavily congested Metro Manila.

Purisima is trying to fast-track the extension of the SLEX up to Batangas and is eyeing a three-year gestation period for the project.

However, instead of the PNCC taking the lead in the project, Purisima wants the newly created Philippine Infrastructure Corp. (PIC) to take the lead, bidding out the construction to an independent construction firm.

Unfortunately, PNCC, which holds the franchise to operate and maintain the SLEX, wants to undertake the construction.

PNCC’s participation in the project, unfortunately, might lead to more problems since it has some financial and legal problems stemming from its failed joint venture with Hopewell Crown Infrastructure, Inc. which originally was suppose to undertake the extension project.

Even during the term of former Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II, the National Development Co. (NDC) was already designated to take over the remaining construction/extension of the SLEX following the inability of the PNCC to complete the project.

The NDC, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), had planned to borrow P4 billion to finance the construction-extension of the SLEX.

The construction project may involve either replacing or rehabilitating/reinforcing the 1.125 kilometer shaky Alabang viaduct which started showing cracks in 2002, forcing trucks weighing 20 tons and above to use the ground level access road which passes through the busy Alabang, Muntinlupa, intersection.

Since the SLEX currently ends in Calamba, the eight kilometer portion connecting it to the STAR expressway in Sto. Tomas also has to be completed.

From Lipa, an extension of 28 kilometers would connect SLEX to Batangas City.

To facilitate the SLEX project, Malacañang has already placed the PNCC under the supervision of the DTI.

Purisima met last week with PNCC president Pastor Ramos and asked him to provide a timetable on how soon the project could be completed.