MANILA, Philippines — MPT South Management Corp., a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), is ready to invest almost P12 billion over the next two years to finish projects that will expand its road network to 63.7 kilometers by 2025.
A big portion or P8.17 billion of MPT South’s P11.95 billion project cost budget from 2024 to 2025 will go to its Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) project, a four-lane expressway starting at Tirona Highway, Kawit, Cavite and ending at the Greenfield Property in Biñan, Laguna.
CALAX is set to reach a total length of 45 kilometers by 2025, featuring eight strategically positioned interchanges: Technopark, Laguna Boulevard, Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road, Silang East, Silang (Aguinaldo), Governor’s Drive, Open Canal, and Kawit Interchange.
At the end of construction, the project is expected to reduce travel time from the Manila–Cavite Toll Expressway project (CAVITEX) to South Luzon Expressway by about 45 minutes.
Its current operational segments span from Mamplasan Rotunda up to the Silang Aguinaldo Interchange.
Subsection 4 of CALAX has been operational since Nov. 8, while Subsection 3 is eyed for completion by the fourth quarter of 2024.
CALAX Subsection 3 is a 7.9-kilometer, 2x2 lane expressway from Governor’s Drive Interchange to Silang Interchange.
Subsections 1 and 2, meanwhile, are targeted to be finished by the second quarter of 2025.
Subsection 1 is an 8.8-kilometer, 2x2 lane expressway from Kawit Interchange to Open Canal Interchange, while Subsection 2 is a 9.8-kilometer, 2x2 lane expressway from Open Canal Interchange to Governor’s Drive Interchange.
For 2024 to 2025, MPT South has also allocated P2.56 billion for the CAVITEX-C5 Link project, P1.09 billion for the CAVITEX-CC Link, and another P134 million for the CAVITEX-R1 and R1 Extension.
The Cavitex-C5 Link Expressway is a 7.70- kilometer, dual three-lane expressway from Cavitex (R-1) to C-5 (C.P. Garcia) Road traversing the cities of Parañaque, Pasay and Taguig and will complete the missing southern section of C5 Road.
Its operational portions include Segments 3A1 and 3A2 from Sucat to E. Rodriguez.
MPT South targets to complete Segment 2 of the CAVITEX-C5 Link by the first quarter of next year, Segment 3B by first quarter of 2025, and the CAVITEX-CALAX Link by the second quarter of 2025.
The company, however, said among the major hurdles in completing its projects remain to be right-of-way, as well as unexpected weather challenges.
MPT South’s average daily vehicle forecast for 2024 is at 268,696 across its road network.
On top of CALAX and CAVITEX, MPTC’s portfolio includes the concession rights for North Luzon Expressway, NLEX Connector Road, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, and Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway in Cebu.