The construction of the P22.43-billion Cavite-Batangas Expressway is expected to start by the first quarter of 2019, according to the Public Works Department.
“We are now evaluating the feasibility study before we can give our approval. We are ready to give the results of our evaluation within the year,” Public Works Undersecretary for planning and PPP Maria Catalina Cabral told reporters.
“By next year, there will be a Swiss Challenge,” she said.
Luigi Bautista, president and chief executive of MPCALA Holdings Inc., said his group was hoping to get the original proponent status for the project by November this year.
He said the project, when completed, would cut the travel time from Sta. Rosa Laguna to Nasugbu, Batangas from 2.5 hours to just one hour.
Bautista said the CTBex project was targeted to be completed in the first half of 2022.
CTBex is a 49-kilometer expressway that will connect Cavite and Batangas, with a spur road to Tagaytay City and ultimately terminating in Nasugbu, with another spur road to Tuy, Batangas.
The project will start at Silang East Interchange of Cavite-Laguna Expressway. The alignment shall traverse the towns of Silang, Amadeo, Mendez and Alfonso in Cavite, Tagaytay City and Nasugbu in Batangas.
MPCala is also constructing the P35-billon Calax”•a four-lane, 47-kilometer closed-system toll expressway connecting Cavitex and South Luzon Expressway.
The expressway will start from Cavitex in Kawit, Cavite and end at SLEx-Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna.