The Cavite-Tagaytay-Batangas expressway (CTBEx) project has been endorsed to the National Economic and Development Authority-Investment Coordination Committee (NEDA-ICC) for further approval, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said.
Based on DPWH’s project status report, the P22.4-billion project was elevated by the NEDA Technical Board to the NEDA-ICC for subsequent approval.
CTBEx is one of the priority projects of the DPWH that is expected to secure NEDA Board approval this year, then will proceed to a Swiss challenge by next year.
Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), through unit Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. and Metro Pacific Tollways South Corp., obtained the original proponent status to build and operate the 50.42-kilometer expressway in the south two years ago.
The unsolicited proposal went through the first round of NEDA approval in December last year. The second and final approval was delayed due to the enhanced community quarantine imposed last March.
The Swiss challenge will allow other companies to submit an offer for the project. The original proponent then has the right to match any offer.
MPTC will infuse an additional P25 billion investment if the project is awarded to the company.
The CTBEx alignment includes the Tagaytay Spur and Tuy Spur, consisting of two-by-two lane carriageway traversing mostly the rural areas of Silang, Tagaytay, Amadeo, Mendez, Alfonso and Magallanes, all in Cavite province, and Nasugbu in Batangas.
The alignment has the following interchanges: Silang, Pook, Aguinaldo, Amadeo, Mendez, Alfonso, Magallanes and Nasugbu.
The project aims to reduce travel time of motorists going to Tagaytay and Nasugbu from Manila and vice versa.
MPTC is a unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. which operates major expressways in Luzon: the North Luzon, Subic-Clark-Tarlac, Manila-Cavite, Cavite-Laguna and Cavitex C5 Link expressways.
