MALOLOS
CITY—Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) is ready to take over operation
of the 93-kilometers Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).
A
unit of infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investment Corporation
(MPIC), MNTC is also among the top-bidders who recently pre-qualified for the
proposed 40 kilometers Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALA).
Ramoncito
Fernandez, president and chief operating officer (CEO) of the Metro Pacific
Tollways Corporation said that President Benigno Aquino is happy with their
proposal on the take over of the SCTEX.
“We
are ready anytime. We are just waiting for the formal announcement of
Malacanang,” Fernandez said in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the
NLEX-SCTEX first short film contest on Monday.
Part
of the MNTC proposal is the 50-50 sharing of revenues and expenses in the
operation of the SCTEX, between the MNTC and the government.
Fernandez
said that even the rehabilitation of the damage embankment on the Pasig-Potrero
River will be shouldered by MNTC and the company.
He
added that part of their plant in the full operation of the SCTEX is the
integrated toll collection system
Earlier,
MNTC offered a P20-Billion concession to the government for the operation of
SCTEX which remains under the management of Bases Conversion Development
Authority (BCDA).
As
this developed, Fernandez also announced that MNTC is among the four bidders
who prequalified for possible operation of the 40 kilometer CALA.
He
said that CALA will stretch from Kawit section of the Cavite Expressway (Cavitex)
and will pass through Silang town to Sta. Rosa in Laguna and will eventually interconnect with the
South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).
The
new toll road is seen to shorten travel time to Tagaytay, but Fernandez said
that its main targets are motorists wanting to cross from SLEX to Cavitex and
vice versa.
Fernandez
said they are hoping that bidding for CALA will be implemented by April. (Dino Balabo)