The construction of two expressways connecting Cavite and Batangas via Tagaytay City will push through, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways.
Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan told reporters it supports the implementation of the P25.24-billion Cavite-Tagaytay-Batangas Expressway proposed by Metro Pacific Tollways South in line with the government’s Build Better More Program which aims to address the infrastructure gap and traffic congestion issues.
Bonoan said the CTBEX project would “push through,” and “I don’t think there will be conflict in alignment” with the Cavite Batangas Expressway proposed by San Miguel Holdings Inc.
“The two projects will push through, but we will have to iron out some pending issues, so that both of them can start,” Bonoan said, referring to CTBEX and CBEX.
“Let’s see on how we can interconnect the two and plus the alignment,” he said.
The DPWH granted the original proponent status to MPTC for the construction of CTBEX in 2018. CTBEX is a 50.43-kilometer expressway that will connect Cavite and Batangas, with a spur road to Tagaytay City and ultimately terminating in Nasugbu and another spur road to Tuy, Batangas.
CTBEX, which is expected to decongest about 23,000 vehicles daily from the nearby thoroughfares, will start at Silang East Interchange of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway which is now open to the motoring public. The alignment will traverse the towns of Silang, Amadeo, Mendez, Alfonso and Tagaytay in Cavite and Nasugbu in Batangas.
The MPTC Group said that in line with the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Build Better More program, it would continue to develop tollways to address the traffic congestion issues and spur economic growth in the region.
The MPTC Group has a total of 240.6 kilometers of existing expressways and 43.1 kilometers under construction, with a total investment of $3.06 billion.
It operates 105 kilometers of North Luzon Expressway, 94 km. of Subic Clark-Tarlac Expressway and 14 km. of Manila-Cavite Expressway. It also operates the 8.5-km. Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway in Cebu.
MPTC is also building the 45-km. Cavite Laguna Expressway Project that is expected to be completed by 2024. Its operational segments stretched from Mamplasan in Binan, with interchanges at Laguna Technopark, Laguna Boulevard, Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road up to Silang East Interchange.
The C5 Link—a 7.7-kilometer 2×3 lane expressway that will connect CAVITEX R1 to C5 Road in Taguig—is also under construction.
MPTC is also constructing 8 kilometers of NLEX Connector Road and 2.60 km. of NLEX Segment 10 R10.
It has pending unsolicited proposals to the DPWH to build the P92-billion 15.1-km NLEX-Cavitex Port Expressway Project and the P71.9-billion 19.4-km. C5 Expressway Project.