The local government of Silang town in Cavite province said the structures built by Uneco Land Corp. in the parcel of land that is critical to the completion of the Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange of Cavite-Laguna Expressway have no permits from the municipality.
Uneco Land “has no record found on file regarding issuance of building permit, fencing permit and other permits issued by our office,” according to the Office of the Local Building Official of the municipality of Silang.
“The structures are found illegal. They don’t get permits from us. So, in the first place, they should not be built there. We already have issued notices to them for compliance, yet they still have failed to do so,” Mayor Kevin Anarna said.
“The thrust of our government is for Silang to become the ‘Horticulture Capital of the Philippines’. So that property [of Uneco] must be dedicated for like a garden only. Having a ranch there is prohibited,” he said.
The undelivered ROW of about 450 meters of land owned by Uneco affects the progress of continuous works, including construction of drainage and bridge, excavation and roadway earthworks and installation of fence and coco net.
Only 64 percent of the segment was finished so far.
The Department of Public Works and Highways earlier said Uneco was demanding P50 million to P60 million in compensation for the property, higher than the P16-million valuation of the agency.
“We are very willing to help MPCALA and the national government to fast track the opening of the CALAX Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange,” said Anarna.
The target opening date of the subsection of the tolled highway has been moved several times, with the latest target in first quarter of 2023.
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 298,000 Silang residents, given the reduced traffic situation.
The average daily traffic is 33,000 from Mamplasan to Silang East 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.
Silang is preparing for two upcominginternational horticulture events that will be hosted by the town in January and April this year.