San Miguel bags original proponent status for Cavite-Batangas Expressway

The provincial government of Cavite has granted the original proponent status (OPS) to Ramon Ang-led San Miguel Corp. to build, operate, and maintain the 27-kilometer Cavite-Batangas Expressway (CBEX) project.

In a statement, the Cavite government said it accepted SMC’s holding form San Miguel Holdings Corp.’s (SMHC) unsolicited proposal for the development, design, financing, construction, operation, and management of CBEX.

SMHC’s unsolicited project proposal covers the development of a 27.06-kilometer toll road crossing the municipalities of Silang, Amadeo, Tagaytay, Indang, Mendez, and Alfonso in Cavite and Nasugbu in Batangas.

The OPS status, which was granted June 30, gives SMHC “the right to proceed with detailed negotiations, and if successful, to exercise the right to match the best competitive proposal that may be submitted during the competitive challenge process.”

The Cavite government said its public-private partnership (PPP) Selection Committee will now proceed with the Competitive Selection Process or Swiss Challenge, wherein similar proposals from potential challengers will be entertained as counter bids to the unsolicited proposal.—LDF, GMA News