San Miguel awaits gov't OK for 3-year toll road network expansion

SMC will expand and extend SLEX, the Skyway system, the NAIA Expressway, and the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road in a bid to decongest traditional chokepoints

San Miguel Corporation (SMC) led by tycoon Ramon Ang will begin its 3-year plan to expand all its toll roads in southern Metro Manila once the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) gives the green light for the project.

"All technical studies for the expansion of all our southern Metro Manila toll roads are now complete and ready for construction. We’re just waiting to get final approval," SMC president and chief operating officer Ang said in a statement on Wednesday, November 1.

The infrastructure arm of SMC said it can complete the expansion of South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Skyway system, NAIA Expressway (NAIAX), and the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) in just 3 years.

San Miguel Holdings Corporation said these projects are expected to decongest traditional chokepoints, like the Alabang viaduct, the Sucat and Bicutan interchanges, Magallanes, the C5 entrance and exit to SLEX, and the NAIAX entry to Skyway.

Its massive toll road expansion plan, in effect, will, ease traffic on public roads leading to these major toll entry and exit points.

"The expansion of these major expressways is long overdue. But we’ve done our homework, we’ve invested to complete the studies and designs, and we’ve submitted all of these to the TRB for review," Ang said. (READ: Meet Ramon Ang, Filipino billionaire and Duterte's friend)

10 lanes for SLEX

Once approved by the TRB, San Miguel will add a 5th lane each to both the southbound and northbound lanes of SLEX to Calamba exit, effectively widening it to 10 lanes.

First phase of the SLEX expansion is from Alabang to Susana Heights. SMC has earmarked P130 million and set a one-year construction period for this phase. This involves extending the width of the expressway towards its perimeter fence.

The remaining section all the way to Calamba can be completed by 2021, if the TRB approves it at the soonest possible time, said SMC.

The conglomerate said that it has already started bidding out construction of the project to contractors.

Meanwhile, SMC has also submitted designs to widen the elevated Skyway from Alabang to Sucat by two lanes and to extend it to the Alabang viaduct.

Skyway, NAIAX extension

Ang said this design will solve the perennial congestion on the elevated Skyway system, bringing the total number of elevated lanes to 6 with provisions for a 7th lane.

The company also submitted engineering plans and completed detailed design to TRB to extend the NAIAX all the way to Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

This is seen to ease traffic on the Sales Bridge and lessen travel time from the Coastal Road, NAIA Terminal 1, 2, and 3, and SM Mall of Asia areas to BGC to only 10 minutes. (READ: San Miguel's latest venture: BMW vehicles)

Also included is the additional NAIAX ramps extension from NAIA Terminal 1 and 2 areas all the way to SM Sucat in Paranaque, where it can link up with the C-5 extension.

SMC said this will benefit motorists heading to Sucat, Las Piñas, and C5, who usually spend around 30 minutes to an hour just getting out of gridlock along airport roads.

Ang said SMC is also looking to implement plans to build a down ramp from the northbound elevated Skyway towards C-5 or BGC area. He said the construction of a one-lane ramp will take 1.5 years to complete.

"All these projects are ready for implementation. These are all just improvements/extensions of existing expressways, so we are hoping that the TRB can review and act on our submissions at the soonest possible time," the SMC chief added. – Rappler.com

‘No relocation, no demolition,’ says Estrada on construction of NLEX-SLEX road connector

MANILA City Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada gave his assurance that no families will be displaced once the construction of the P23.3-billion NLEX-SLEX (North Luzon Express Way-South Luzon Express Way) road connector project has started.

“We will stick to our rule: ‘No relocation, no demolition’. No families will be asked to move out without new homes they can transfer to,” Estrada said.

Estrada said the affected families would be properly compensated as mandated by Republic Act 8974, which provides guidelines in the acquisition of right-of-way, site or location for national government infrastructure projects.

According to NLEX Corp., 3,500 informal settler families (ISFs) in Manila will be affected once the construction has started.

Edward Castro, engineer of NLEX Corporation said that 85 percent of the alignment of the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road would pass through 38 villages (barangay) in Manila.

“NLEX Corporation will help in the project with the City of Manila, especially in the ISFs (informal settler families) who will be affected,” Castro said.

The project alignment will also affect 1,043 privately owned lots with a total land area of 87,174.61 square meters.

“The city government will also handle the traffic management aspect of the construction, which is set to start in the second quarter of 2018 and is expected to be finished by 2020,” Estrada said.

The project is an 8-kilometer, all elevated 2×2 highway, extending the NLEX Southward from the end of Segment 10 in C3 Road Caloocan City to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

The highway will also connect the common point of Skyway Stage 3, traversing mostly along the PNR rail track. Its interchanges will be on C3 Caloocan City and España in Manila. ASHLEY JOSE

SMC proposes to extend NAIA Expressway to BGC

Conglomerate urges gov’t to act on new toll road expansion projects

Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) wants to expand its NAIA Expressway (NAIAx) project to Bonifacio Global City in Taguig to provide better access of Manila’s airport complex to more areas in the capital district.

SMC announced the plan—which requires the government’s approval—in a statement on Wednesday.

It also announced that various technical studies to expand its massive southern Manila toll road network spanning South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), the Skyway system, and the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (Star) have been completed. North of Manila, it operates the Tarlac Pangasinan La Union Expressway.

In its statement, SMC revealed that complete detailed engineering plans for the expansion of the 7.7-kilometer NAIAx project going to BGC have been submitted to the government.

SMC said the project will decongest Magallanes and the Edsa-Pasay area. The NAIAx extension also aims to cut travel time between Coastal Road and SM Mall of Asia areas and BGC to just 10 minutes.

The NAIAx, a private public partnership project that SMC opened last year, is a key part of Metro Manila’s toll road network. Serving some 80,000 vehicles per day, it provides access to all terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from Skyway, Cavite Expressway and other major roads with its 14 on and off ramps.

SMC also wants further links for NAIAx. Among these, NAIAx ramps from the Naia Terminals 1 and 2 areas all the way to SM Sucat, where it can link up with the C5 extension project.

“This will benefit motorists heading to Sucat, Las Pinas, and C5 who usually spend anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour just getting out of gridlock along airport roads,” SMC said in its statement.

SMC president Ramon S. Ang said the conglomerate was preparing for a wave of expansion of its toll road business over the next three years.

Earlier this year, it announced an agreement with the state-run Philippine National Construction Corp. to jointly expand several such projects, valued at a combined P554 billion

“There is no stopping the Philippines’ growth. With this, more people will be travelling, more goods will be transported, so we expect that traffic volume will just get worse,” Ang said.

He said other projects to expand its southern Manila toll road network were ready, and it was up to the government to approve and implement these.

Its new projects would decongest traditional chokepoints such as the Alabang viaduct, the Sucat and Bicutan interchanges, Magallanes, the C5 entrance and exit to SLEX, and the NAIAx entry to Skyway and also on public roads leading to these areas.

“The expansion of these major expressways is long overdue. But we’ve done our homework, we’ve invested to complete the studies and designs, and we’ve submitted all of these to the Toll Regulatory Board for their review. All these projects can be completed within three years, provided government gives us the green light to proceed right away,” Ang said.

SMC is also adding a fifth lane each to both the southbound and northbound lanes of SLEx to Calamba exit, effectively widening it to ten lanes.

It said the first phase will run from Alabang to Susana Heights. It will cost P130 million and can be completed in a year.

The remaining section all the way to Calamba can be completed by 2021— if government approves it “at the soonest possible time,” SMC said.

Moreover, it submitted a design to widen the elevated Skyway from Alabang to Sucat by two   lanes as well as extend it to the Alabang viaduct.

“This will bring the total number of elevated lanes to six–three lanes each way–with provision for a seventh lane. This project can be completed in three years,” SMC said.

Finally, SMC wants to build a down ramp from the northbound elevated Skyway towards C5/BGC. This project is expected to take a year and a half to complete.

“We’re committed to finishing these on schedule, and we are confident that these projects will greatly improve the traffic situation in Metro Manila which our countrymen have had to endure for many, many years,” Ang said.

SMC looks to expand SLEX, Skyway, NAIAex

San Miguel Corporation said Wednesday it was waiting for the government's go-signal to implement expansion plans for several tollways. 

SMC aims to expand the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Skyway system, NAIA Expressway (NAIAX) and the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road.

"All technical studies for the expansion of all our southern Metro Manila toll roads are now complete and ready for construction. We're just waiting to get final approval for each of these projects from the Toll Regulatory Board," SMC president Ramon S. Ang, said.

Ang said all of the projects can be finished within 3 years.

SMC plans to add a 5th lane to both the southbound and northbound lanes of SLEX to Calamba exit, effectively widening it to ten lanes.

It also plans to widen the elevated Skyway from Alabang to Sucat by two lanes, as well as extend it to the Alabang viaduct.

The company is also looking to extend the new NAIA Expressway all the way to Bonifacio Global City, and extend its ramps from the NAIA Terminal 1 and 2 areas all the way to SM City Sucat, where it can link up with the C5 extension.

Ang said SMC is also planning to build a down ramp from the northbound elevated Skyway towards C5/BGC.

"These are all just improvements, extensions of existing expressways, so we are hoping that the TRB can review and act on our submissions at the soonest possible time," Ang said.

Japan commits to fast-track subway, train system projects in Philippines

“I am pleased with Japan’s reiteration that it is fully committed to – as he described it – ‘give flesh’ to the 1 trillion yen or close to nine billion dollars pledge for assistance to the Philippines,” President Rodrigo Duterte said in joint press conference after the meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday in Tokyo.

“This covers huge impact and high value infrastructure projects that my country needs to sustain and spur our economic growth,” the President added.

“There will be some of the most ambitious and groundbreaking projects, including the Metro Manila Subway project, and major developments in the regions and provinces,” he said.

Prime Minister Abe committed to fast-track the implementation of Metro Manila subway project; and the railway project which will connect Metro Manila to central Luzon.

Duterte said the Philippines and Japan are entering the golden age of strategic partnership.

“It’s a commitment founded on the democratic values we hold dear. It’s a resolve that has withstood the test of time. Working together, we should have much to show and to be proud of in the years to come,” he said.

DOF assures faster implementation of BBB projects under hybrid PPP

THE Department of Finance (DOF) will impose an 18-month benchmark for private companies in starting infrastructure projects, notably those being undertaken through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Program.

Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said that, since the government could be able to start an infrastructure project within an 18-month period, or a year and a half, why should it settle for the PPP that takes around 30 months before the actual start.

“We have no time, we are very far behind in infrastructure and we have to move faster. We [the government] have proven we can start a project in 18 months, so that is the benchmark the private sector has to meet. We have to start it; the country needs the infrastructure. So you want us to punish the public and wait around for some guys to do the PPP for 50 months, I think that is not fair to the public,” Dominguez told financial reporters.

According to the finance chief, the Duterte administration’s “hybrid” PPP Program will help speed up the rollout of the government’s big-ticket infrastructure projects under its “Build, Build, Build” program, as this modified strategy will avoid the protracted negotiations and disputes that often result in the delayed implementation of previous PPP initiatives.

“How many PPP projects were actually started by the last administration? Half a dozen. They have six years to do it. Half a dozen in six years, and the average took 30 months, and one of them took 50 months. Fifty months from the conception to the start. I am not talking about completion,” he added.

The Cavite-Laguna Expressway project, which took all of 50 months to conceptualize and begin implementation, is one prime example of why the government decided to modify the traditional PPP formula and fast-track the process.

He said that, rather than resort to the traditional PPP mode, and encounter the same problems in the private sector, the Duterte administration decided to take the initiative and put in place a hybrid PPP in which the government will build and finance the infrastructure projects, and later auction off the operation and maintenance aspects to the private sector.

“We are not willing to wait for the private sector to settle their differences. While private companies quarrel among themselves as to who will make the profit, the public suffers from lack of infrastructure. The Duterte administration is willing to take the construction risks and spend budgeted funds to start projects early,” he said.

 Interesting that the long delays for the Cavite Laguna Expressway were one of the reasons why the Duterte administration is pursuing a hybrid PPP plan. But CALAx itself is not being funded by a hybrid PPP scheme right? Is CALAx 100% MPIC funded under subsidiary MPCALA?

The article also cites the new Clark Green City as a model for hybrid PPP. Tingnan natin kung ano ang magiging resulta nun:

Dominguez added the proposed New Clark City in Pampanga is concrete proof that the hybrid PPP mode is faster and is more efficient considering that it took the government only 18 months to break ground on the project.

“We took over in July of 2016. In December, we will break ground already for the Clark project,” he added.

Dominguez said the Plaridel Bypass Road that will link the North Luzon Expressway with the Philippine-Japan Friendship Highway in Bulacan, which was supposed to be implemented via the traditional PPP mode, will already be finished next year under the hybrid PPP.

“Had we done that with PPP, would still be negotiating with them [the private sector] now. But  has started it, and we’ll finish it by next year,” Dominguez added.

Earlier, Dominguez said that the hybrid PPP mode does not totally shut out private contractors from taking part in the implementation of infrastructure projects, as unsolicited proposals are still welcome from the private sector which would have a better grasp at identifying potential problems and offering better solutions to prospective ventures.

‘PH subway running by end of Duterte’s term’

THE country will have its first subway system before the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term.

This was according to Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito, who accompanied Duterte on a visit to Japan this week.

The $9-billion economic and infrastructure assistance pledge made by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during Duterte’s visit in Japan clearly indicated that the subway project would materialize, he told reporters.
“I am confident Japan will honor its pledges and commitments,” the senator said.

Ejercito recalled that during the presidency of his father, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, then Japanese prime minister Keizo Obuchi delivered on his pledge to assist the Philippines in the construction of the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway Project and various airports.

During Duterte’s second official visit, Japan reiterated its full commitment to provide ¥1 trillion in assistance to the Philippines to boost economic and infrastructure development in the next five years.
Duterte made the announcement in a joint news conference with Abe during the first day of the visit on Monday.

“I am pleased with Japan’s reiteration that it is fully committed to give flesh to its one-trillion-yen pledge of assistance for the Philippines which covers high-impact and high-value infrastructure projects that my country needs to sustain and spur economic growth. These will include some of the most ambitious and groundbreaking projects, including the Metro Manila subway project and well as major developments in the regions and provinces,” Duterte said.

“Our commitment to further expand our cooperative ties show that the Philippines and Japan is building a golden age of strategic partnership,” he added.

Families displaced by road project to get new homes

Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada gave assurances that families that will be displaced by the construction of the P23.3-billion NLEX-SLEX (North Luzon Express Way-South Luzon Express Way) road connector project will have new homes in relocation sites.

“We will stick to our rule: no relocation, no demolition. No families will be asked to move out without new homes they can transfer to,” Estrada said.

The mayor said affected families will be compensated as mandated by Republic Act 8974 which provides guidelines in the acquisition of right-of-way, site or location for national government infrastructure projects.
According to the NLEX Corp., 3,500 informal settler families (ISFs) in Manila will be affected once construction of the project starts.

Edward Castro of NLEX Corp. said 85 percent of the alignment of the connector road will pass through Manila’s 38 barangays.

“The city government will also handle the traffic management aspect of the construction, which is set to start in the second quarter of 2018 and is expected to be finished by 2020,” Estrada said.

The project is an 8-kilometer, elevated highway, extending the NLEX Southward from the end of Segment 10 in C3 Road Caloocan City to PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila.

The highway will also connect the common point of Skyway Stage 3, traversing mostly along the PNR rail track. Its interchanges will be on C3 Caloocan City and España in Manila.