PARAÑAQUE CITY, 10 JULY 2020 – Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation (“CIC”), the concessionaire of the Manila-Cavite Expressway (“CAVITEX”), and the Philippine Reclamation Authority (“PRA”), break ground on two (2) new segments of the Cavitex C5 Link.
The joint venture partners have also signed a contract with the consortium of A.M. Oreta & Company, Inc (“AM Oreta”) and China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. (“China Harbour”) for the construction of Segment 2 and Segment 3A-2.
DCCD Engineering Corporation, KE Asia, Inc. and Ove Arup and Partners Hongkong LTD (Philippine Branch) have been tapped as project consultants.
The construction agreement was signed by Mr. Roberto V. Bontia (CIC President and General Manager), Mr. Christopher C. Lizo (Chief Operating Officer of CIC and Chief Finance Officer of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation), Mr. Xiarun Chu (Country Manager, China Harbour), Mr. Artemio Santos (Authorized Managing Officer, AM Oreta), and Mr. Raul V. Manlapig (Managing Director, Ove Arup).
Gracing the groundbreaking and signing ceremony were Sec. Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways; Parañaque City Mayor Edwin D. Olivarez; Parañaque City First District Representative Eric D. Olivarez; Parañaque City Second District Representative Joy Tambunting; Atty. Janilo Rubiato, PRA General Manager; and, Mr. Rodrigo E. Franco, President of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (“MPTC”).
CAVITEX C5 Link is a 7.70-kilometer dual three-lane expressway that runs from R-1 Parañaque Toll Plaza to C-5 Road in Taguig.
Segment 2 is a 1.9-kilometer, 2×3 lane expressway that will run from R-1 Expressway to Sucat Interchange. Segment 3A-2 is a 1.6-kilometer, 2×3 lane expressway that will run from Merville to RSG Subdivision in Parañaque. These two segments are eyed for completion by the second quarter of 2022.
Upon completion, Segments 2 and 3A-2 are expected to reduce travel time to Makati and Taguig cities from Parañaque City, Las Pinas City, and Cavite Province by thirty (30) minutes, and play a huge role in economic development.
”These projects will decongest EDSA and Sales Road in Pasay City by about 50,000 vehicles per day, and connect major business districts in Taguig and Makati to Parañaque, Las Pinas, and Cavite,” said Sec. Villar.
“Continuing with BBB (Build, Build, Build) activities will help spur economic growth to get us back on track from the effects of the pandemic,” he added.
Messrs. Franco and Bontia shared Sec. Villar’s view.
“These new segments will play a huge role in our national recovery, as we continue to seek ways to help the Filipino people cushion the impact of Covid-19,” Mr. Franco said.
“Once operational, Segments 2 and 3A-2 of CAVITEX C5 Link will help provide fast, safe and efficient movement of people and goods, and create at least 1,000 new jobs in construction, operations and maintenance,” Mr. Bontia said.
AM Oreta and China Harbour welcome the partnership with CIC and the PRA.
“We are happy to work with CIC and the PRA in helping the Philippine economy by means of faster and convenient land travel,” said Mr. Chu.
”This collaboration will alleviate the plight of the motoring public by easing vehicular movement in several key economic areas,” Mr. Santos said.
CIC is a subsidiary of MPTC, the tollways arm of infrastructure holdings conglomerate, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation.
Aside from the CAVITEX, CAVITEX C5 Link and the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (“CALAX”), MPTC’s portfolio includes the concessions for the North Luzon Expressway (“NLEX”), the Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway (“SCTEX”), the NLEX Connector Road, and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (“CCLEX”) in Cebu.