The tollway unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. wants the government to approve its overdue toll increases to avoid delays in the implementation of several road projects.
Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. said its various road construction projects would cost about P132 billon over the next few years.
“It is therefore imperative that overdue tariff increases be implemented to enable these projects to be appropriately funded for the good of the nation,” MPTC said.
MPTC’s companies in August last year filed a notice with the Toll Regulatory Board and Department of Transportation and Communications demanding settlement of past due tariff increases but “no resolution was forthcoming.”
In April 2016, Manila North Tollways Corp. and Cavitex Infrastructure Corp each issued a notice of arbitration and statement of claim to the government, through the TRB, to obtain compensation amounting to about ₱3 billion for North Luzon Expressways and ₱877 million for Cavitex.
The two tollway operators filed the notice of arbitration after TRB’s inaction on lawful toll rate adjustments due since January 2013 for NLEx and January 2012 for Cavitex.
“We are hopeful of prompt resolution of these matters with the new administration,” MPTC said.
MPTC is currently constructing Segment 10 of the NLEx Harbour Link, a 5.6-km elevated expressway costing P10.5 billion and running from Valenzuela City to C3 in Caloocan City. The project is expected to be completed in the second half of 2017.
Other MPTC’s projects include the ₱2.6-billion Segment 2 and 3 NLEx Road-Widening Project to accommodate growing traffic numbers, which started on March 9.
The project will expand the existing two-lane portion of NLEx between Sta. Rita and San Fernando to three lanes on both the northbound and southbound sides, while the current one-lane stretch between Dau and Sta. Ines will be expanded to two lanes in each direction.
The TRB also issued a conditional notice to proceed with the construction of the C5 Link Expressway, part of the existing Cavitex network and a ₱10-billion project spanning 7.6 kilometers to link C-5 Road in Taugig to R-1 (Coastal) Expressway. Construction is expected to start by the first quarter of 2017 upon approval of the final engineering design.
In addition, the Public Works Department continues to secure rights of way for the Cavite Laguna Expressway with construction beginning as early as next year. MPTC was awarded the 35-year CALAx concession in 2015.
In April 2016, MPTC signed a joint venture agreement with the city of Cebu and the municipality of Cordova to build the P27.9-billion Cebu-Cordova Bridge Project. The 8.25-km bridge project, set to be completed by 2020, will connect Cebu City to Mactan Island via Cordova.
MNTC is finalizing plans with the Public Works Department to build an elevated expressway to connect the Northern and Southern toll road systems at a cost of ₱18 billion.
The proposal was subject to a public bidding through the government’s Swiss Challenge process and no competing bids were submitted.