METRO Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) is preparing to submit a few more requirements for two of its proposed unsolicited expressway projects with an aggregate cost of P70 billion.
Rodrigo E. Franco, who sits as president at Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., said the government required his group to forward more documents on its proposed P50-billion C5 Link Expressway, and the P20-billion Cavitex-Port
Area Expressway.
“The unsolicited proposals are being looked at, and they are following the procedures under the build-operate-transfer law. They are asking for more details on the Cavitex-Port Area and C5 Link projects,” he said.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Franco explained, is seeking the detailed design of the two unsolicited proposals.
“They asked for additional details, such as the detailed design of the proposed expressways,” he said.
C5-Link Expressway, which aims to link C5 to Cavitex, will serve as an alternate road to the North Luzon Expressway, bypassing Edsa and Balintawak Toll Plaza.
The Cavitex-Port Area Expressway, on the other hand, aims to connect the existing Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway to the ports of Manila, passing through Roxas Boulevard.
“But the Roxas Boulevard portion is up for studying. It won’t be elevated,” he noted.
This expressway, when built, will essentially link the Cavitex and the North Luzon Expressway, which will soon be extended to R-10 in Caloocan, or what is called Segment 10. Segment 10 is an elevated expressway passing through MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela City, Gov. Pascual Avenue in Malabon City and C3 Road/5th Avenue in Caloocan City.
Metro Pacific, the largest tollways operator in the country, is set to spend P130.5 billion in the next five years to build toll roads and highways around the country.
The company also has interests in toll road companies in Thailand and Vietnam, and is “continuing to look for other investment opportunities in the region”.