PRRD to lead groundbreaking of 2 bridges next week: DPWH

President Rodrigo Duterte will lead the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge in Mandaluyong City and Binondo-Intramuros Bridge in Manila next week.

This was announced by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar on Wednesday during the ocular inspection of the site for the construction of the four-lane bridge in Manila.

“Next week is the groundbreaking of these projects, with President Duterte after the groundbreaking the construction of the projects will proceed,” Villar said in an interview.

The DPWH chief noted that the two bridges worth USD70 million were donated by the Chinese government.

“These two bridges are a product of our partnership with the people of China. We are optimistic about this collaboration as they will be providing world-class bridges that will truly be beneficial for us Filipinos,” Villar said.

“The implementation of these bridges is scheduled to begin next week and will be accessible to the public by 2020,” he added.

With a total length of 506.46 meters, the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge will connect Estrella Street in Makati City and Barangka Drive in Mandaluyong City.

On the other hand, the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge will have a total road length of 734 meters, equipped with a four-lane carriageway and a three-meter sidewalk along both sides. It will cross the Pasig River and will provide a new link between Intramuros and Binondo.

Vlliar explained that two bridges are part of the Metro Manila Logistics Improvement Network, a traffic management plan composed of 12 new bridges crossing Pasig River, Marikina River, and Manggahan Floodway.

The alignment caters to about 1.3 million vehicles daily and provides alternative linkages between major thoroughfares, such as EDSA and C5.

“The construction of the Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge and Binondo-Intramuros Bridge is part of our master plan to decongest other existing bridges. As a major component of this initiative, we plan to further increase the number of bridges nationwide and rehabilitate the older bridges to ensure public safety,’’ Villar said. (PNA)

DPWH says finalizing approval of CTBEx

By Denise A. Valdez

THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is looking to grant “very soon” the original proponent status (OPS) to the Metro Pacific group for its proposal to build a Cavite-Tagaytay-Batangas Expressway (CTBEx).

Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar told reporters last week the department is “finalizing” the project’s approval.

“I don’t want to preempt but soon…. Nakita ko naman, napag-aralan ko naman [I’ve seen it, I’ve studied it],” he said.

The proposal to construct a 49-kilometer toll road linking the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) at Silang East Interchange to Tagaytay City and Nasugbu, Batangas was submitted by MPCALA Holdings, Inc. to the DPWH in July 2017.

MPCALA Holdings President Luigi L. Bautista told BusinessWorld in a text message on Tuesday that fund-raising for the P22.43-billion CTBEx project will begin when they receive the OPS.

“No fund-raising has yet been started until we secure the project and are ready to execute. At the moment, we are still waiting for the OPS,” he said.

Mr. Bautista said in late April they were expecting the approval by June, but up until last week he said they have yet to receive an update from the DPWH.

The DPWH earlier set a November 2017 deadline for its release of the project evaluation results.

The construction of CTBEx was originally set to begin on mid-2019 and completed by mid-2020.

Once MPCALA Holdings is granted OPS from the DPWH, the proposal would then be forwarded to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for approval. When approved by the NEDA Board, it will then be subjected to a Swiss challenge.

Under the Swiss challenge, other companies may submit counter-proposals which MPCALA Holdings may match.

MPCALA Holdings, which is part of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), bagged the contract for the P35.43 billion CALAX under the public-private partnership program in 2015.

MPIC is one of three key Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.