MPTC’s CTBEX proposal expected to be cleared by Q1 2020

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC)’s P22.43-billion Cavite-Tagaytay-Batangas Expressway (CTBEX) unsolicited proposal could secure final approval from the government early next year, according to Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar.

Villar said the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) is expected to complete the review of the CTBEX project by the first quarter of 2020.

“I think very soon, in the next few months. We can get it out in the first quarter next year,” Villar said.

MPTC’s unsolicited offer to develop the CTBEX has been granted the original proponent status (OPS) by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in July last year.

The OPS gives MPTC the right to match offers from other parties when a Swiss challenge is conducted for the project. The Swiss challenge will be undertaken once the proposal gets approval from NEDA.

The P22.43 billion proposal will connect from the west of Silang East Interchange of the Cavite Laguna Expressway and will pass through Silang, Pook, Amadeo, Tagaytay, Mendez, Alfonso, Magallanes, Tuy and Nasugbu.

The project was conceived in early 2016 in line with MPTC’s desire and commitment to help bring progress to the western part of Southern Luzon.

It is one of the first projects that have been granted OPS by the DPWH under the current administration.

Villar earlier said the project was given the OPS because of its significance in addressing congestion in the Calabarzon area.

Aside from the CTBEX project, MPTC has also submitted to the DPWH a P92-billion unsolicited proposal to construct an expressway linking North Luzon Expressway and Manila-Cavite Expressway, or the NLEX-CAVITEX Port Expressway Link project.

MPTC, the tollways arm of infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp., has a domestic portfolio that includes the concessions for NLEX, CAVITEX, Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway, the NLEX Connector Road, and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway in Cebu.