The government is looking at expediting the approval of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC)’s P22.4-billion Cavite -Tagaytay -Batangas-Expressway (CTBEX) unsolicited proposal, and hopefully conduct the Swiss challenge this year despite the pandemic.
MPTC through its unit Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. and Metro Pacific Tollways South Corp. has obtained the original proponent status to build and operate the 50.42-kilometer (km.) expressway in the south two years ago.
The unsolicited proposal went through the first round of National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) approval in December last year but the second and final approval was delayed due to the enhanced community quarantine imposed last March .
“We’re looking to expedite the CTBEX with the NEDA. I’m talking to (NEDA) Secretary (Karl) Chua, now to fasttrack all the necessary information, ” said Secretary Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
DPWH will commence the 60-day Swiss challenge period once the NEDA board approves the project. The Swiss challenge will allow other companies to submit a proposal that will challenge the original proponent which in turn has the right to match the offer.
The CTBEX project has three sections: the first has an estimated project cost of P9 billion passing through the Silang, Cavite, Pook, Aguinaldo, Amadeo interchanges and a spur to Tagaytay covering 17.06 kms.; Section 2 is a 10.32-km. expressway that has estimated project cost of P6 billion and the third section spans 22.83 kms.
CTBEX will connect seamlessly with the Cavite-Laguna Expressway and Manila Cavite Expressway. It will ease traffic for about 23,000 vehicles that traverse existing thoroughfares daily
The project aims to reduce travel time of motorists going to Tagaytay and Nasugbu from Manila and vice versa.
Travel time will be shortened in two major routes namely Governor’s Drive to Nasugbu, where the usual one hour and 42 minutes will be reduced to 44 minutes, equivalent to 56 percent time savings, and the Sta. Rosa to Tagaytay route, where the usual travel of two hours will be reduced to 46 minutes, equivalent to 62 percent time savings.
MPTC is a unit of Metro Pacific Investment Corp. which also operates major expressway in Luzon, include North Luzon Expressway, Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway, Cavitex, Calax and Cavitex C5 link expressway.
