The local government of Silang, Cavite asked the Department of Public Works and Highways to resolve the remaining right-of-way issues of the Cavite Laguna Expressway of MPCALA Holdings Inc. to speed up the completion of the whole project.
“We are very willing to help MPCALA and the national government to fast track the opening of the Calax Silang [Aguinaldo] Interchange. Right now, we are planning to set up a meeting with the owner of the land to discuss the right-of-way issues. Maybe, we can get a compromise agreement before the end of the year,” Silang Mayor Kevin Anarna said in a statement.
About 64 percent of Calax Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange subsection of the CALAX project was completed so far.
MHI earlier said the target date for the opening of the subsection had been moved several times, with the latest being December 2022.
It said one critical portion for the completion of the interchange is the undelivered ROW of about 450 meters of land, which is owned by a private corporation.
The ROW issues prevent the progress of continuous works, including construction of drainage and bridge, excavation and roadway earthworks and installation of fence and coco net.
Anarna said the delay in completion of the CALAX subsection had hampered the development of inner roads of the municipality.
“Once the CALAX Silang [Aguinaldo] Interchange is completed, we can now start the construction of inner roads so that we will be accessible to local tourists and investors who want to invest in Silang,” Anarna said.
The fifth of the eight segments of the 45-kilometer expressway spans 3.9 km, with 2×2 lanes from Silang East Interchange to Aguinaldo Highway. Upon completion, this will serve more motorists, including the 298,000 Silang residents, given the reduced traffic situation.
The average daily traffic is 33,000 from Mamplasan to Silang Ease interchange. This is expected to increase to 40,000 when the Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange opens, thus easing the usual bottleneck along the 41-km Aguinaldo Highway—the busiest main thoroughfare in Cavite—as well as Governor’s Drive and Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road.
Anarna said that as construction works were underway, traffic in the area was heavy, especially during weekends.
Anarna said Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange’s rapid completion would ease the heavy traffic, encouraging more people not only to pass by their municipality to neighboring towns and cities, but also to visit and see its natural wonders, tourist spots and other attractions.
The completion of the interchange is very important because Silang is preparing for the upcoming two international horticulture events that will be hosted by the town in January and April next year, he said.
“We want to be known as the ‘Botanical Garden of the Philippines,’” Anarna said.