Metro Pacific Tollways or MPT South Corp. is investing close to P12 billion in the next two years to ensure that big-ticket toll road projects will be completed on schedule amid right-of-way or RoW challenges. 

MPT South vice president for Finance Elnora Rumawak said more than half or P8.167 billion of the total budget of P11.952 billion from 2024 to 2025 will be allocated for the development of the unfinished Cavite-Laguna Expressway or CALAX segments.

The remaining amount, on the other hand, will be earmarked for the three segments of the Cavite Expressway or CAVITEX, including the Cavitex-C5 Link Expressway. 

Raul Ignacio, president and general manager of MPCALA Holdings Inc., the concessionaire of CALAX, lamented that RoW issues are still the primary challenge that the company faces. 

As per the latest timeline disclosed by MPT South, Segment 2 of the CAVITEX C-5 link is scheduled to be completed by the first quarter of next year, while Segment 3B will be done by the first quarter of 2025.

Roads link by Q2

The CAVITEX-CALAX Link, on the other hand, is expected to be complete by the second quarter of 2025.

"For Segment 3B, we are taking an aggressive position. There's a commitment from DPWH that they will fund partly the remaining RoW, we are hoping that we will be able to attain at least 80 percent for us to start by January," Ignacio said. 

Meanwhile, the CALAX Subsection 3 should be finished by the last quarter of 2024.

Both Subsections 1 and 2 of the expressway are scheduled to be completed by the second quarter of 2025. 

CALAX is a 45.29 kilometer, four-lane expressway starting at Tirona Highway, Kawit, Cavite, and ending at the Greenfield Property in Biñan, Laguna.

CAVITEX, on the other hand, consists of the operational R-1 and R1 extension, which traverses the Coast of Manila and connects Roxas Boulevard to Cavite, with 2 toll plazas namely Parañaque Toll Plaza and Kawit Toll Plaza.