San Miguel, Metro Pacific Cavite-Batangas tollway pegged at P75 billion

The joint venture project of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) and Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) linking Cavite and Batangas has been estimated at P75 billion as the deal between the two firms is set to be closed soon, a top official said Tuesday.

According to SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang, the tollway project will take some four years to build and is expected to be completed by 2027.

“Mag-co-closing na kami. ‘Pag nag-closing, umpisa ng bili ng mga right of way (We are about to close. Upon the close, we will start buying for the right of way),” he told reporters on the sidelines of the Philippine Economic Briefing in Pasay City.

“One year to buy the right of way. After that, itatayo ‘yan (it will be built) within three years at the most, so four years from now, 2027, tapos ‘yun,” he added.

He was referring to the 96-kilometer joint venture tollway that will link Cavite to Batangas, and Batangas to the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX).

Asked for the project price, Ang said "maybe about P75 billion," still lower than the 18-kilometer Skyway Stage 3, which cost P90 billion.

SMC is also the proponent of the ongoing New Manila International Airport in Bulakan, Bulacan, which is set to be opened in 2025 with a target passenger capacity of up to 50 million.

Moving forward, Ang said the company is also keen on joining the public bidding for the second phase of the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX), which involves the finance, design, and construction of a four-lane, 35.70-kilometer extension from Cabanatuan City to San Jose City.

It is set to pass through the municipalities of Talavera and Llanera in Nueva Ecija, providing an alternative route to the Pan Philippine Highway. It also includes the construction of the toll facilities for CLLEX Phase 1.

“Siyempre sasali kami dun (Of course we will join),” Ang said.

SMC Infrastructure’s portfolio includes the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR), the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), the Skyway System, the NAIA Expressway (NAIAX), the Boracay Airport, the Metro Rail Transit Line 9, MRT7, and the Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project.

Its product portfolio includes beer, spirits, non-alcoholic beverages, poultry, animal feeds, flour, fresh and processed meats, dairy products, coffee, various packaging products, refined petroleum products, and cement. — VBL, GMA Integrated News