After 20-year wait, Manila-Cavite toll expressway project begins

After almost two decades of delay, President Arroyo led the groundbreaking yesterday for the construction of the $117-million Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway.

Once completed, the 11.24-kilometer, dual-lane highway will reduce travel time between Metro Manila and Cavite.

It will also be linked to a 4.3-kilometer bridge and 1.7-kilometer embankment connecting Zapote and Kawit to another expressway to Noveleta, all in Cavite.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremonies, Mrs. Arroyo said her administration was able to start construction of the vital artery through the $70 million fund which she secured from the International Finance Corp. (IFC) during her state visit to Washington last year.

"And so we were able to get the IFC financing because of our strong alliance with Washington, this project, which would create construction jobs, would further attract investors to our economic zone in Cavite after two years of construction (of the expressway)," she said.

Mrs. Arroyo said the Manila-Cavite expressway project has been "languishing" in the drawing board since the time of President Corazon Aquino.

On her orders, government agencies worked out to resolve all legal, financing and other issues so construction of the highway could be immediately started, she added.

Mrs. Arroyo said when she was still undersecretary of trade and industry, then Cavite governor Johnny Remulla would lobby for the infrastructure needs of his province to attract more investors.

That’s why she invited Remulla to the groundbreaking ceremonies, along with Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr., Cavite Gov. Ayong Maliksi, and pro-administration senatorial candidate Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr., she added.

Also present at the ceremonies were former prime minister Cesar Virata, and former Cavite governor Epimaco Velasco. — Marichu Villanueva