By Leslie D. Venzon
MANILA, June 8 (PNA) — MPCALA Holdings Inc. (MPCALA), a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), has won the bid to develop the Cavite-Laguna Expressway Project (CALAX).
In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) said its unit received a copy of the notice of award Monday from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) declaring it the winning bidder for the CALAX.
This, after the MPCALA offered the government a premium of Php27.3 billion payable over nine years from signing of the toll concession agreement for the closed-system tolled expressway connecting Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) and South Luzon Expressway via the Mamplasan Interchange in Laguna.
“The project is expected to directly generate more than 3,000 new jobs during the construction. This does not include the thousands of new jobs from the expected new investments along the Cavite-Laguna corridor from the improved infrastructure,” said MPTC president and chief executive officer Ramoncito S. Fernandez.
Fernandez said that once completed, CALAX will integrate with CAVITEX and will feature the same modern facilities of MPTC’s existing toll roads.
“This is in line with our vision of eventually linking all our expressways – including the soon to be integrated NLEX-SCTEX (North Luzon Expressway and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway), Harbor Link – providing seamless travel experience to motorists,” he said.
Under the terms of the bidding, MPCALA, as the winning bidder, is granted the concession to finance, design, construct, operate and maintain CALAX, including the right to collect toll fees.
The concession period is for 30 years from expected date of opening in 2020.
MPCALA has DMCI Holdings Inc. and Leighton as its nominated contractors.
MPTC is owned 99.99 percent by Manuel Pangilinan-led conglomerate MPIC. (PNA)