MPCALA inks contract for CALAx construction

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) unit MPCALA Holdings Inc. has signed the P7.3 billion contract with Leighton Contractors for the construction of the Cavite side of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAx).

“MPCALA Holdings signed the construction contract with Leighton last March 22,” MPCALA president Luigi Bautista said in a text message.

Asked if the government could break ground on the Cavite segment this month, Bautista said it is unlikely, as the firm would need to check with the Department of Public Works and Highways first to be able to set a date.

Earlier, Bautista said the firm expects to conduct the groundbreaking on the Cavite side of the project within the month.

MPCALA was awarded the P35.43 billion CALAx project under the public-private partnership program in 2015.

A 45-km tollway CALAx will connect the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

It will start at CAVITEX in Kawit, Cavite and end at the SLEX-Mamplasan interchange in Biñan, Laguna.

There will be eight interchanges located in Kawit, Open Canal, Governor’s Drive, Aguinaldo Highway, Silang East, Sta.Rosa-Tagaytay Road, Laguna Blvd. and Technopark.

The Cavite segment will cover 27-km, while the Laguna segment will span 18-km.

MPCALA tapped D.M. Consunji Inc. for the construction of the Laguna segment.

It broke ground on the Laguna segment in June last year.

Under the project, the concession period will be for 35 years including five years for design and construction.

Once completed, the CALAx is expected to cut travel time from CAVITEX to SLEX by 45 minutes.

Aside from CALAx, MPIC is building other tollway projects such as the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) - SLEX Connector Road, NLEX-Harbor Link Segment 10, C-5 South Link, and Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway.

At present, MPIC operates the NLEX, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and the CAVITEX.