SMC, MVP back Roxas' tollway links proposal

MANILA, Philippines - Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. (CMMTC), backed by the San Miguel Group, and Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) of businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan, have expressed support to a proposal by Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) Secretary Manuel Roxas II for government to allow the construction of two major tollways connecting the South Luzon Expressway and the North Luzon Expressway.

“Having two major tollways linking the North and South will indeed be very beneficial to the public. Not only will we decongest EDSA, we will also hasten the flow of traffic and commerce between North and South,” CMMTC president Shadik Wahono said. “Since the San Miguel Holdings-Citra Skyway 3 project and the ‘connector’ road of MPTC will cater to different markets and therefore, serve different purposes, we support the position of Secretary Roxas and Mr. Pangilinan,” he added.

Citra’s proposed North-South link, a 14-kilometer, six-lane tollway with exits in Quirino in Manila and Plaza Dilao, Aurora Blvd., E. Rodriguez Ave., Quezon Blvd., Sgt. Rivera, and Balintawak in Quezon City, is seen to greatly decongest EDSA. MPTC’s connector road, on the other hand, will have four lanes and three exits in Quirino, Espana, and 5th Avenue.

“We don’t mind if the government will allow both Citra and MPTC to undertake their projects. The more that the roads complement each other, the better the traffic throughput would be,” he said.

This was also the position that the San Miguel Holdings-Citra consortium adopted when it announced late last year that it was prepared to spend $1.5 billion for infrastructure acquisitions and development in the country for 2012.

In May 2011, Citra submitted its updated investment proposal for the Citra Skyway (Stage 3) to the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). It is currently waiting for the government agencies to complete their evaluation. The Citra Skyway (Stage 3) is a component of the Metro Manila Skyway Project approved by the government in 1995.