Roads to progress

Significant infrastructure developments made headlines recently, with none other than President Marcos gracing the inauguration event of a new connector road and the groundbreaking of two more projects set to drastically improve access and travel between Metro Manila and the Southern Tagalog region.

At the inaugural drive, President Marcos and businessman-philanthropist Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP) led the traverse through the Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) C5 Link Sucat Interchange, which will shorten the travel time from Cavite to Taguig City and Bonifacio Global City.

According to reports, the new infrastructure near Parañaque toll plaza of CAVITEX is expected to accommodate 16,000 motorists daily.

President Marcos and Pangilinan also led the groundbreaking rites for  two connector roads: the CAVITEX-CALAX (Cavite-Laguna Expressway) Link, which is expected to significantly improve road network connectivity from Kawit City in Cavite to the rest of the Southern Tagalog Region; and the CAVITEX C5 Link Segment 3B, which will greatly reduce travel time from CAVITEX to C5 Road in Taguig City.

Pangilinan is the chairman of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), which leads the development of CAVITEX and CALAX.

The President also said that these new projects are products of a “great deal of hard work, thorough planning, and collaborative efforts” between the government and the MVP Group. These are concrete demonstrations of the effectiveness of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the realization of critical infrastructure projects that will ultimately benefit the public.

This welcome development fuels hope for millions of Filipino motorists and commuters who have been enduring hours of daily traffic jams, wasting valuable time that should have been allocated to more productive activities or spent with family.

I remain true to my belief that advancing PPPs is an effective approach to bring fruition to public programs and projects that collectively improve Filipinos lives. Time and again, it had been proven that the private sector’s support, which covers funding and technical expertise, can significantly ease burden on government, thus ensuring a successful and sustainable implementation of key public developments.

Successful PPPs also spur investor confidence, encouraging the business community to work together with the public sector. This collaborative approach brings forward a positive investment climate for the country -  a key pillar in the  economic agenda of the current administration.

In his speech, the President said that, “these three milestone projects bring to reality our promise to transform the lives of millions of Filipinos, by systematically easing traffic flow in the greater Metro Manila area.”

A systematic, advanced, and efficient road network is one of the key foundations of economic growth that can significantly impact the progress of a nation. Road connectivity goes beyond providing convenience for motorists and passengers, rather it plays a more crucial role in  spurring greater economic activity that can create a domino effect.

Efficient road networks reduce travel time and greatly impact business operations and productivity since these facilitate the transportation and exchange of goods. Improved road connectivity lead to a more streamlined business operations that will redound to consumer benefits, since the outcome of this is access to more products and price stability of goods.

These expanded road networks also help boost economic development in regions beyond Metro Manila, through providing access to new markets, creating new jobs, and encouraging investments. Case in point- the CALAX and CAVITEX developments can be credited as instrumental in spurring regional growth in Southern Luzon.

Even more fundamental is that improved road connectivity enhances the quality of life of citizens. It provides better access to a range of social services, reduces stress brought about by traffic congestion, and decreases travel time, which allows people to dedicate more of it to important matters that enrich their personal lives.

A more interconnected and developed Philippines is becoming a reality, thanks to the continued collaboration of the public and private sectors that generate vital infrastructure developments. These not only spur economic growth, they also pave the path towards enhancement of the overall well-being of Filipinos.

I eagerly anticipate the completion of these road projects, and I am optimistic that those in the pipeline will be in the development stage soon as the country progresses towards economic growth.