The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has earmarked a P2-billion budget for right-of-way (ROW) acquisition to fast-track the completion of the 45-kilometer (km) Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Calax) this year.
Recently, DPWH secured a writ possession for the remaining 15,650 square meters of land for the Calax Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange.
With this, Manuel Bonoan, DPWH secretary, said the Calax Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange will be completed in “two to three months” after months of delay due to ROW issues.
Bonoan also committed to fast-track the delivery of ROW for the remaining segment of the Calax project this year.
“They (Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. or MPTC) can now continue the construction,” he added.
The DPWH chief said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allocated P2 billion for the Calax project ROW this year.
“I was able to talk to DBM and they assured me that they will be releasing the funds necessary for the acquisition of the right-of-way for CALAX,” Bonoan said.
The undelivered ROW is a crucial part to finish the construction of the Calax Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange.
The ROW issues prevent continuous works, including the construction of drainage and bridge, excavation and roadway earthworks, and installation of fence and coco net.
In an order dated February 23, Presiding Judge Michael Maranan of Branch 134 of the Tagaytay City Regional Trial Court (RTC) lifted the “holding in abeyance the implementation of the issued writ of possession.”
Maranan also directed the RTC branch’s sheriff to implement the writ of possession issued by the court dated March 4, 2022, without delay.
“As prayed for and as agreed upon by the parties, the defendant (Uneco Land Corp.) is given a period of 10 days before the actual implementation of the writ to remove, transfer, or relocate the horses, farm tools, and equipment and other things not otherwise considered as part of the building or structure that may found in the subject property,” Maranan added.
Subsection 4 or the Silang (Aguinaldo) Segment is 65 percent complete, while more than 57 percent of the Calax project is done.
Once completed, Calax will connect to the busiest highway in Cavite, Aguinaldo Highway, and help decongest major thoroughfares of this province and Laguna. The interchange will serve more motorists, including the 298,000 Silang residents, as the traffic situation eases.
Eventually, Calax will expand to 45 km and will connect to Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex). At present, its operational segments stretch from Mamplasan in Biñan, with interchanges at Laguna Technopark, Laguna Boulevard, Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road, up to Silang East Interchange.
MPCALA Holdings Inc. is a subsidiary of MPTC, the toll road development arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. and the biggest toll road developer and operator in the Philippines.
Aside from Calax and Cavitex, MPTC also holds the concession rights for North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), NLEX Connector Road, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway. – Myla Iglesias
